Should One's Faith Influence a Citizen's Vote?Voting is the foremost means by which Americans help shape their government and support leaders of similar political ideologies. Although voting is a personal expression that influences our government, responsible voters aim to elect officials because of their stances on issues and ability to responsibly deal with the duties of the position while openly listening to other perspectives and working toward compromise on the issues that need to be resolved for the good of America; on the other hand, there is no Constitutional requirement that Americans fully assess the qualifications of the candidates as they simply can vote for a candidate because they like them. Some people may view voting for a candidate for religious reasons as an improper exercise of freedom.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who would testify that America is inherently a Christian Country but such arguments are often rot with misconceptions and inaccurate historic references. The truth is that America does espouse morals and social standards that coincide with the expectations of the Christian faith, among others, as there are ties to religion and the forefathers of this Nation did appreciate the value of these aspirations. The Constitution, however, is very explicit in prohibiting the influence of religion in the political process. What Americans must understand is that the political value of religious beliefs comes from their ability to create standards that can reinforce respect for all peoples while building a healthier society free of antisocial behavior like crime, discrimination, and egocentric attitudes. The downside of religion is that it can alienate individuals of different faiths and limits perspectives; thus, religion should not dictate policy or be the deciding factor in a political issue. It is up to voters to use their religious beliefs as guides that help them to elect officials who aspire to similar standards and values. As for elected officials, individuals must never use their religion in taking legislative action; instead, they should look to morals and standards as guidelines for inspiring action. Faith is a part of many people and that faith inspires those individuals in political matters as it will always influence their broader beliefs and expectations of society. Beyond the personal perspective, individuals must always protect other perspectives while pushing past personal biases that hinder solutions to complex social problems. Overall, voters should be inspired by their religious beliefs, but religion must not be the primary reason for supporting a candidate as politics in America cannot be an extension of any religion. |
|