Faith as a Running Point

This has to be the scariest thing ever. Really! A person running for president of the United States with a slogan along the lines of "faith, family, freedom"!

Why is this scary? For one very simple reason: A person is running for president of the United States and outright lists "faith" as one of the reasons. This person says his faith is his life, and it defines him. Scary. Very, very scary. If elected, he'd try to pass as many laws as he could, which would be based on his beliefs, which he himself says is based on his faith. So…. He'll use the bible to pass laws for the USA! You know what the bible is right? The book that people don't agree on. The book that people interpret differently. The book that people don't even agree on whether there's two stories of creation, or one that's just phrased differently (and in different orders). A book that people don't agree on whether the old testament is still valid… Get the point? The laws of the United States will be based on one man's religious beliefs. Some of you might think that's a good idea. But think of this for a moment -- do you agree 100% with everyone's interpretation of the bible that attends your church?

We're just one step away from being the country that you're free to practice whatever religion you want -- so long as you go by the rules of religion X. Pagan? Great! You'd better practice Christian beliefs though! Believe that the bible's just a collection of stories (some fact, some exaggerated stuff)? Well, too bad. It'll be law now!

And here comes the funniest part o fit all! How many people are anti-abortion (because all life's precious!), but also support the death penalty? But no matter! Get raped and molested by your twin brother? Enjoy your baby! That's right, you were supposed to have it! Your brother was meant to do that for it was god's will! So what if you were raped by your twin and your baby will basically be a clone!

I know some of you think this would be a great idea. But as I said before -- what if the religion isn't Christian? What if the "faith, family, freedom" person was Muslim? Jehovah's Witness? Satan Worshipper? Pagan? Not so quick to want "faith" added to the government now are you? As soon as religion's used as the blueprint for the government, we're one step closer to the end of time, the end of the world. Forcing someone to abide by rules that can only be backed up with a bible that not everyone agrees on is wrong. People in the USA scream about how bad it is in other countries where religion has written the laws (women being stoned for loving the wrong guy, sleeping with the wrong man, etc, anyone?) -- yet as soon as someone wants to base laws in the United States on a religion -- people are all for it! Think people! The same thing you don't want in other countries, and find to be wrong, is the same thing you're trying to have in your own! And it's only because it's your own religion.

'Tis a sad, sad thing.

Politics and Religion

As it would be, I'm actually checking into different candidates this upcoming election for President of the United States. I feel it necessary to specify which, considering the internet is world-wide. And there's something I find quite disturbing, something so small yet I see it creeping into the foundations without anyone really noticing. There may be a few that have noticed it, but not entirely enough to really mention. And for some I'm sure you can figure out where this is going.

Gay Marriage

Now exactly, how is this anything other than religious? Exactly how does banning gay marriage affect anything other than people's religious beliefs? Don't allow them to marry, and they'll still live together, still have relationships, still be intimate, still shop together, and so on. There's no difference other than they won't be married (health insurance benefits and such being excluded here). Ban gay marriage and you don't stop a single thing that makes them gay. You don't prevent a single thing that gay people do -- which anymore, the acts themselves are pretty similar to what straight people do, just the genders involved are different. There's no reason, other than religious, that gay marriage should be prevented. And please… let two consenting adults marry is a lot different than a child and an adult, or an animal that's incapable of speaking in a recognizable language and a human to marry.

Religion should not dictate what the rules of the government are. They should be separate ideas. Not saying they won't have similar viewpoints (such as don't kill, don't rob, no rape, etc -- although some might debate religion's viewpoints on these), but a viewpoint that can only be justified by a religion's backing has no place in government. However, just because a government allows something doesn't mean that religions should have to allow it. Like with marriages. Government could allow, religions could deny. Meaning that a government could recognize a couple, but the religion could ignore it, or just not allow them to be "married" in the church. Their choice.

But when you've got people running for office that are going to run the country, and be the spokesman for everyone -- would you really want to say "yeah, he pardoned rapists, treats women like slaves, passed laws to get them out of the workplace -- but at least those gays can't marry!" Exactly how do you think that makes the US look like to the world? The USA is hated by many others in the world, partially since others believe that these morons that we have running the place are a true representation of the US people. And the sad thing is they aren't. Some of them would probably be in prison today if they weren't in politics. A group of people that just happen to have free time pick people to run for office. Then this group of people gets in front of more groups of people to see who really runs for office. Sometimes the USA people get the chance to vote in primary elections from a list of people; I've lost count to the number of people that don't vote here because they hate all the people running. Then the big election that counts of the "lesser of evils" runs against each other, or in some cases "the best liars, with a good PR person".

And when it all comes to play, what do they all do? Play dirty. Play on the fears, and religious beliefs of the people -- "the gay's are going to convert the children!!!!!!!!" so they go against gay marriage. And what do the blind sheep (aka: Americans [U.S.]) do? They fall for it! Yep. Why pay attention to things that matter? Like say, if they're going to destroy all the forests, rape the land, wage war on other countries, and give breaks to companies so they can pollute without giving a hoot? Because, the people are too blind to realize that the politicians are smart enough (con artist) to ignore these things. Unless, of course, they're currently affecting people. If the oceans were to rise ten feet, you'd better bet "global warming" would be the first thing mentioned by politicians, but since it doesn't apply now, they pull out the wild card: religion. Most people are religious, so do things that might get religious backing, and you're in. That's right, chances are many of these politicians don't really care about gay marriage. They probably never gave it a second thought -- until they realized they could get votes by making a stance one way or another.

Want to know what happens if religious beliefs run a government? Look at the middle east. Because one day, if they keep on pushing to get these passed and succeed, the United States will be the same way. Only here instead of countries fighting, we'll have states fighting. Sound familiar? But just think -- at least the politician got elected right? And those gays weren't allowed to marry! Still screwing their brains out of their partners, still living together, still showing affection in public, but at least they can't marry.

Just remember to keep a stockpile of guns and ammo -- you'll need it.

Immigration

Now comes the funny part. Block the gays because the bible says so! But keep those damn foreigners out too! Because remember, the bible says to keep those unlike you out, and to hate your fellow man; keep those in need far away from you, kick the homeless out of your house and let them rot on the streets. I mean, it says that right?

Well if it doesn't, then why do some politicians that are against gay marriage because of the religious problems -- against letting people into the country and helping them out? Ah, that's right; it's what some call "selective bible". You know. The quoting of the bible to get your point across, and ignoring other parts as it suits you because you don't agree. But this isn't a bible thing so much as it is a point. Politicians will use the bible, your religion, to get voted in to do whatever they want. Using God's word to advance their agenda by saying they're for everything that the majority's for, and against everything they're against. Of course, it's a fine line for not everyone for one thing is against another. So in the end it comes down to odds. What statistical advantage does a person have by being "for" one thing and "against" another? Pick the right combination and guess what? You're elected. Get close, and you're opponent does the same, and you'll end up with a close run.

But let's think of the immigration thing for a bit now shall we? What's better, to have thousands of undocumented workers in the USA; or let them in legally? Trick question. They'll be here regardless! The only difference is, you'll know who's really here (and uh, isn't that what people want to make sure terrorists aren't in the country -- oh that's right! No attack recently, so we don't care). Give theme benefits? Why not -- as long as the USA people get them too. Now I know many of you are thinking that you want those people kicked back into their own countries. Sounds great! So after all the US Americans are kicked back to other countries so the Indians can take back the land…. Oh, what? Don't want that? We're ALL immigrants of sorts if you go back far enough (American Indians excluded), and if you go back really far (and believe in the bible), we are all immigrants since God kicked us out of our home. OK, OK, so let's say only the NEW immigrants that cross the border illegally should be kicked back. Think about this for a moment. Just how bad does your country have to be to risk your life and the lives of your family to escape? Imagine leaving everything you have right now, packing up light and heading for the border, sometimes crossing the ocean or other massive water body, paying everything you have -- just to work for "slave wages" since you'll be just a step above "slave" in the new country. How bad does it have to be if the idea of being just above a slave is a better life?

Pretty bad eh? So how can anyone, either just a moral person or a religious person, even consider sending them back? And what's worse -- they didn't even have a choice to be born where they were; yet we want to punish them for it? Worst case, we get so many immigrants here that other countries outsource to us. Better yet, why not? Open call centers and other things and have the immigrants and all other unemployed people to work there. Then have companies here and abroad "outsource" their stuff to us.

They're people, just like us, humans. Created by God just as us (for those that believe that -- or evolved from the same basic species for others). What makes anyone so high and mighty that they can say they aren't worthy of life? Yet again, it's another thing that politicians use. People's lives are not a peg in the election machine. I don't know what's sadder, the fact that politicians take a stance to condemn people's lives to death, or that probably half in the USA don't want them in either. It's sad when people have to be forced to be human because of a law.

Religion

Want to know the worst part about politics and religion? Candidates are outright asked about it. Some might have stated prior what they are. But what difference does it make? How many people out there agree 100% with every minister they've ever heard that's the same religious denomination as them? How many people agree 100% with everyone in their own church about beliefs? With a few exceptions, not many ever do. Families don't always agree. I've seen a Christian minister go from eating all meats to saying the bible's totally against it and condemn all non-kosher foods -- and not surprisingly lost almost all his followers. Shocking still is that a small group believed exactly what he said after (despite believing exactly what he said before the kosher thing). I've known identical twins that disagreed on what the bible said, yet they attended the same church. Someone's religious affiliation doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things politically. Just as political party doesn't mean anything (check out what the candidates believe from a single party -- they don't agree on every point). Just because someone is similar to you by a group affiliation doesn't mean that you can, should, or must agree with them!

In the political world, it'd be better (not for being elected of course) to be "non-religious", but accept all religious as a person's choice. As any political position, you have to deal with ALL religions. Your choices and decisions affect everyone. This is a country where people are free to practice whatever religion they want, so long as they abide by a few rules (such as murder). Get someone who's extremely religious with a religious agenda, and you'll be free to practice whatever religion you want, as long as you abide by their religion's rules. And it will happen. As time goes on more and more policies are trying to get passed that force religious standards on others. Stop birth control because sex before marriage is bad (can we say "rise of STD's" anyone? [retired people are starting to get them, thanks to Viagra]). Stop sex-ed because they shouldn't see things like that. Cover up statues of naked people because naked is shameful. If it feels good, it must be a sin as the joke goes; soon it'll be, if it feels good, it's probably illegal.

Religion's great though! It gives people hope. Lets them realize that after their governments screw them up one side and down the other, that they'll at least be something once they die. Gives them hope that their loved ones are no longer in pain and can watch over them -- and they can see them again once they die.

But it's not good for governments to preach. And it's not difficult to tell if it's being done. If the justification for a law is because the act banned is "sick", "disgusting", or "the bible says so" it has no place in law. Now if it can be backed across multiple countries as being wrong, and you can give reasons other than those for why, then that's different. Murder is wrong, it takes away one's right to live for the pleasure or psychosis of another; and the bible just happens to say so (although it is debated); it destroys families, causes pain and suffering to those left behind without warning because of outside means. While the same can be said for accidents (or unknown illness if "through outside means" is removed), murder is one or more people's intention to rob another of their existence. And few would agree that's right (death penalty, self defense, etc, excluded).

End to Political Parties & Religions ruling the world

End to Political Parties; Religions ruling the world -- two separate ideas.

If all political parties were to be dissolved tomorrow -- who would you vote for?
The one that wears the same suit you do? Perhaps the one that drives the same car? Or even the one that goes to the same church as you do? Maybe the one that has the best TV ads?

Sounds a bit dumb to pick someone to run the country on the sole reason of any of those doesn't it? Yet think about it -- how many people running under the same party have exactly the same beliefs on how to do everything, from what should be done, to how it should be carried out? Or better yet, how many times have you not agreed with someone from your own party on how something should be done?

Yet there are millions of individuals who vote for someone based entirely on what party they are -- with no regards to what they believe in! It's the same thing as voting someone in because they drive the same car as you; you have no idea what they are like, you're just taking the word of some third party.

If Hitler and Stalin were to run as Democrat and Republican in the USA; many people would vote for them just because their party said they were OK, and that's good enough for them. You'd have a few people sitting at home, shocked when the results come in on the millions of people voting for one or the other. And a few planning on a revolt or otherwise overthrowing the office for a reelection.

Yet here is the question again, who would you vote for if political parties didn't exist?

When you have to make the decision on your own, with no help from others, how would you choose? The answer to this should be the same with, or without, political parties: if their beliefs match yours, at least the majority or the main points.

If a candidate goes in and tries to tell you of all the good things he/she's going to do for the state, yet not raise taxes at all -- move on to the next candidate if you think the "no raise in taxes" is a reason to put them in office!
Can you renovate your house with new things without spending money? Why do you think a state or country-wide renovation could be done for nothing? If they do manage to pull it off without raising taxes, the money has to come from somewhere -- like programs they don't care for.

Now here's one of the most controversial sections of it all: abortion, & gay marriages. Why controversial? Because for many people, they can't separate their religious viewpoints from them.

No matter what your stance is on these topics, it shouldn't even be in politics or laws. Why? No matter what the law says, they'll still go on. No matter what the politicians stance is on it, you'd have to have around 3/4 of the people in office believing the same thing before anything would change law wise.

Think about it...
Women have been having "abortions" for hundreds of years. All a pregnant mother would have to do is "almost" commit suicide herself, and the fetus would die (think: drink a poison, punch herself in the stomach, take pills) only way to stop a woman who really wants to terminate the pregnancy is to keep her in a straight jacket, inside a padded room, and on as many drugs as possible to keep her out of it without harming the fetus. Ban abortion, and you'll have more alley-abortions, and pregnant women suicides. You'll have women crossing country borders to have them in other countries. Black market pills will be smuggled into the country to make it easier and less dangerous for the women.


Gay marriages? Again, doesn't matter what your stance is, it doesn't have any place in law or politics. Marriage is a religious ceremony; governments have marriage licenses to generate additional revenue. Think of one reason, other than a religious one, that says homosexual people shouldn't be able to marry.
If it involved "bad for families" -- why? It doesn't prevent homosexuals from dating and such. They'll still be families of homosexuals, just no paper certificate to say they are legally. Not to mention if homosexuals aren't able to marry, how can you prove that their marriage hurts families? There's nothing to base the argument on.
If it involved "it's sick", it's not a against marriage argument, but a against homosexual argument -- unless of course you think "it's sick" for a man and woman to marry as well.
If it involved "it's wrong", well, that's a religious or person reason more than anything - not to mention not saying "why" it's wrong! It's wrong for a person to lie and intentionally emotionally hurt another, but there's no law against that.

Now if you think that banning same-sex relations will make them stop; you really are naïve. Unless of course you believe that every home should have cameras covering every angle so no one has privacy -- people will still be having relations with whoever they desire.


Yet people go on about choosing these things for reasons to vote for or against a politician. And I'm sure many of you think it's the right thing to do.


But what about global warming? Health care for citizens? Food for the homeless? Jobs for the citizens? Pollution controls? Environmental laws so the inhabitants of the earth aren't killed off, people don't die from cancer caused by contamination and such? How about laws to protect workers from workplace hazards? Laws about garbage control and recycling? Education funds? Public transportation? Protection for threats? Freedom of speech? Freedom to practice religion without fear of persecution? Or even just knowing that your children won't have to grow up living in fear, because safety organizations are properly funded?

Oh, but those things aren't important as making sure women can/can't have abortions, or even homosexuals being able to marry or not are they -- at least that's the feel you get from listing to all the political advertisements! You've got to blindly follow what your political party tells you; and let your religion dictate the laws for everyone. After all, the best government is one that lets you practice any religion you want, as long as you abide by the laws of the majority. Might sound good, until you think of this: what happens when a religion that isn't yours becomes the majority in the government? Still think that the religious beliefs should be used to make law?