Comments on: I Would Be Less Likely to Vote for a(n) _____ as President http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/ by Hemant Mehta Sun, 27 May 2012 01:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: stogoe http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67893 stogoe Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:11:38 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67893 A humanist, environmentalist platform and a history of working to further the issues in their platform are the most important to me. But I can't say that religion or lack thereof would play no part in my decision. I would probably vote for a less religious candidate in a primary. But a liberal Christian vs. an atheist authoritarian in a general election? I have to vote for the liberal, even if their hat is at odds with their political positions. A humanist, environmentalist platform and a history of working to further the issues in their platform are the most important to me. But I can’t say that religion or lack thereof would play no part in my decision. I would probably vote for a less religious candidate in a primary. But a liberal Christian vs. an atheist authoritarian in a general election? I have to vote for the liberal, even if their hat is at odds with their political positions.

]]> By: Mike C http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67826 Mike C Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:48:07 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67826 Probably not Miko. I tend to vote issues, not parties or religions... though I'll take religious background into account if it affects the issues. Probably not Miko. I tend to vote issues, not parties or religions… though I’ll take religious background into account if it affects the issues.

]]> By: Miko http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67776 Miko Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:53:11 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67776 <blockquote>How many atheists here would be honestly less likely to vote for someone based on some of the religious categories here? Evangelical Christian for example. Would that affect your vote?</blockquote> This is sort of what I was wondering about with the atheist vs. evangelical vs. etc. percentages. Of course, it's a bit of a different experience for atheists since we basically have no choice about voting for theists, making it only a difference of degree. There are certainly legitimate reasons for us to be concerned about such things. If someone runs on the platform of drastically expanding the Faith-Based Initiative or of passing a new Constitutional amendment to undo the 1st Amendment, I'd certainly oppose him/her vehemently. And I'd be worried by anyone who thought that prayer was a viable way to solve any tangible problem. Or if they use irrational dogma to deny basic science. But these are all specific concerns. Honestly, it wouldn't affect my opinion in general at all. I didn't get mad at the Democrats for their faith debates this term; I just didn't bother watching them. Now, if we had a Scientologist running, that might be another story... Seriously though, I see the differences between my style of atheism and the Emerging Church as being more philosophical than practical. Do you think that our voting habits in this regard are significantly different than your own?

How many atheists here would be honestly less likely to vote for someone based on some of the religious categories here? Evangelical Christian for example. Would that affect your vote?

This is sort of what I was wondering about with the atheist vs. evangelical vs. etc. percentages. Of course, it’s a bit of a different experience for atheists since we basically have no choice about voting for theists, making it only a difference of degree.

There are certainly legitimate reasons for us to be concerned about such things. If someone runs on the platform of drastically expanding the Faith-Based Initiative or of passing a new Constitutional amendment to undo the 1st Amendment, I’d certainly oppose him/her vehemently. And I’d be worried by anyone who thought that prayer was a viable way to solve any tangible problem. Or if they use irrational dogma to deny basic science. But these are all specific concerns. Honestly, it wouldn’t affect my opinion in general at all. I didn’t get mad at the Democrats for their faith debates this term; I just didn’t bother watching them. Now, if we had a Scientologist running, that might be another story…

Seriously though, I see the differences between my style of atheism and the Emerging Church as being more philosophical than practical. Do you think that our voting habits in this regard are significantly different than your own?

]]> By: miller http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67753 miller Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:23:24 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67753 Mike C, I'm not sure, to be honest. It's hard to separate religion from politics and political reasoning. Even aside from all that, the religious position of the candidate can be symbolic, and will influence the general public's thinking if not the candidate's. So I'm thinking yes, though it's hard to imagine candidates that are so equal that I would have to consider this. Mike C,
I’m not sure, to be honest. It’s hard to separate religion from politics and political reasoning. Even aside from all that, the religious position of the candidate can be symbolic, and will influence the general public’s thinking if not the candidate’s. So I’m thinking yes, though it’s hard to imagine candidates that are so equal that I would have to consider this.

]]> By: The Exterminator http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67751 The Exterminator Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:03:46 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67751 One of the categories should have been: "idiot." Unfortunately, I think it would have earned a lower percentage than "atheist." One of the categories should have been: “idiot.” Unfortunately, I think it would have earned a lower percentage than “atheist.”

]]> By: Mriana http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67748 Mriana Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:52:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67748 Yes, Mike it would affect my vote. If I knew they were Evangelical Fundamentalist Christians, I would not want to vote for them. By the same token, if they were an athiest, that would not affect my decision, but rather their platform. For most Evangelical Fundamentalists, THAT IS their platform. They run it by their religion and not by what is really needed for the country and thus the Religious Reich makes this country into a Theocracy and not a Democracy. Where as an atheist, I can focus more on his platform and not worry about him or her trying to run the country based on an ideology. So drop the atheist to 60% and bring the Evangelical up to 17%, because I won't vote for them if I know they are Evangelicals. I have had enough of this country being ran by the Religious Reich. Yes, Mike it would affect my vote. If I knew they were Evangelical Fundamentalist Christians, I would not want to vote for them. By the same token, if they were an athiest, that would not affect my decision, but rather their platform. For most Evangelical Fundamentalists, THAT IS their platform. They run it by their religion and not by what is really needed for the country and thus the Religious Reich makes this country into a Theocracy and not a Democracy. Where as an atheist, I can focus more on his platform and not worry about him or her trying to run the country based on an ideology.

So drop the atheist to 60% and bring the Evangelical up to 17%, because I won’t vote for them if I know they are Evangelicals. I have had enough of this country being ran by the Religious Reich.

]]> By: olvlzl, no ism, no ist http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67747 olvlzl, no ism, no ist Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:51:24 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67747 Excellent question, Mike C. There are actually some evangelicals who are pretty liberal. I still think the world would be a lot better off if the Mormon Morris Udall had won the election in '76 and I'm no fan of the Mormon establishment. You have to take individuals as individuals to be realistic. Excellent question, Mike C. There are actually some evangelicals who are pretty liberal. I still think the world would be a lot better off if the Mormon Morris Udall had won the election in ’76 and I’m no fan of the Mormon establishment. You have to take individuals as individuals to be realistic.

]]> By: Mike C http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67743 Mike C Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67743 How many atheists here would be honestly less likely to vote for someone based on some of the religious categories here? Evangelical Christian for example. Would that affect your vote? And miller, what if it was an evangelical Democrat? Would it still affect your vote? How many atheists here would be honestly less likely to vote for someone based on some of the religious categories here? Evangelical Christian for example. Would that affect your vote?

And miller, what if it was an evangelical Democrat? Would it still affect your vote?

]]> By: miller http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67742 miller Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:21:32 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67742 Any difference between this poll and the one from last year, is likely attributable to difference in the poll question. This one only asks which groups people would be <em>less</em> likely to vote for. Didn't the older one ask which groups that people wouldn't vote for at all? I'm not sure these results necessarily mean widespread discrimination. After all, religion may be irrelevant to politics, but it can be a good predictor. I'd be less likely to vote for an Evangelical, because such a person is more likely take the worst of the Republican positions. Any difference between this poll and the one from last year, is likely attributable to difference in the poll question. This one only asks which groups people would be less likely to vote for. Didn’t the older one ask which groups that people wouldn’t vote for at all?

I’m not sure these results necessarily mean widespread discrimination. After all, religion may be irrelevant to politics, but it can be a good predictor. I’d be less likely to vote for an Evangelical, because such a person is more likely take the worst of the Republican positions.

]]> By: Darryl http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2007/09/09/i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67740 Darryl Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:51:31 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/09/09/latest-poll-i-would-be-less-likely-to-vote-for-an-_____-as-president/#comment-67740 Whoever becomes President next will surely change some of these numbers. Whoever becomes President next will surely change some of these numbers.

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