Church and State: An Inclusive Look at Religious Politics

Religion and politics are taboo conversations that rarely mix comfortably, but religion must be brought up when discussing the next president.

The nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute discovered in a survey that two-thirds of Americans prefer their leaders to have strong religious beliefs.

There are common morals, and then there are morals instilled by religious beliefs. When a person is brought up learning to do good for others without expecting anything back, that person is much more apt to make a positive difference without looking for personal gain or recognition.

Religion normally includes more people than just one family, enhancing community togetherness. Along with religion comes each version of life after death. This offers extra motivation to be selfless when learning by an idolized example.

The survey said that one in five Americans would not want a president with a different religion that their own.

This is understandable, too, but for a more superficial reason. Each person thinks his or her beliefs are correct. If everyone at least respected common decency for the way we treat each other, conflict over religious beliefs would be put to rest.

There are extremists in every religion, but there are teachings alike that fuse being a good person with family oriented ideals.

There have been murders and sacrifices in the name of God and of the Devil. There have been psychologically disturbed people who contort hate crimes to be acts of God. Suicides along with human and animal sacrifice have been performed because people believe they are being led to carry it out.

There is a saying that a family that prays together stays together, and it is also proven that families that eat meals together generally create a much healthier living environment than a family that eats apart. These two values of spending time with family and sharing common religious beliefs combine physical and emotional support in a growing family.

In the survey, it was found that 29 percent of Americans would not want an evangelical Christian for president, 53 percent would not want a Mormon, 64 percent would not want a Muslim and 67 percent would reject an atheist as president.

American stereotypes against Muslims are apparent for two reasons. First, September 11 will forever be instilled in the lives of each and every American. Although there have been numerous talks, organizations and strides to enhance tolerance and understanding that all Muslims are not terrorists, that cannot take away the damage done.

Second, people are afraid of what they are unfamiliar with. I am sure most people at the very least know someone who is Muslim, but before President Barack Obama, America has only had white men in the oval office.

In our presidential race right now, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, both republicans, are Mormon. Herman Cain, also a republican, is a Baptist Christian. Romney and Cain are leading in the poles right now with no competitors close behind, with Huntsman and Santorum bringing up the rear.

This means we will most likely have a Mormon against a Baptist Christian.

The survey said 29 percent would not prefer an evangelical Christian. Fifty-three percent of people would not want a Mormon as president, but yet, a Mormon is winning the race right now.

Cain was winning, but after sexual harassment allegations, his amount of favorable viewers dropped to 57 percent from 66 percent. Right now Romney and Cain look like the ones that will be battling out who will run against Obama for America’s next presidential campaign.

President Obama is said to have been raised in a secular home where he learned of many diverse religions. Austin Cline, the Regional Director for the Council for Secular Humanism in New York, wrote in an article saying, “His mother was raised by non-practicing Christians; his father was raised a Muslim but was an atheist by the time he had married Obama’s mother. Obama’s step-father was also Muslim, but of an eclectic kind who could make room for animist and Hindu beliefs.”

There have been many conspiracy theories about Obama’s religion and beliefs; too many for my taste. I believe there will be more presidents like Obama, in the sense that they will not have declared one religion they practice. This opens doors for more secular beliefs.

People will always generalize and associate themselves with a person with their declared religious/political beliefs.

Extremists get the microphone, so the activists for each religion will be heard. Muslims are now seen as dangerous. Christians are seen as egotistical and overbearing. No matter how individual people feel about specific religions, there will always be biases toward each and every affiliation out there.

Everyone thinks their beliefs are correct. When choosing a person who will govern a country, that person’s whole life must be an open book for people to speculate through to be able to choose the best individual.

I would prefer to have a Christian president or something of the like. I am completely on board for secular beliefs and accepting people from all diverse backgrounds, but the life lessons, values and strong morals that develop from religion mold a person to be selfless in order to better whichever organization they advocate for, in this case, our country.

Anna Westerholm can be reached at anna.westerholm@spartans.ut.edu