Colin McEnroe Show: The Aqua Buddha And How Religion Influences Politics
From campaign slogans to stump speeches - religion factors into politics.
Religion and politics don't intersect here in Connecticut as often as they do in other parts of the nation, or maybe they do intersect but a lot more quietly.
For most of the election cycles of my adult life, it was never a bad idea to be a Roman Catholic, and many Catholic politicians wore their faith and its influence on their thinking openly and proudly. And Joe Lieberman's serious adherence to Orthodox Judaism has always seemed much more of a help than a hindrance to him.
But what we typically don't have in Connecticut are the kind of religious fights that are commonplace in other parts of the country in which a high-pitched conservative Portestantism crashes into just about everything else. Today on the show, we'll talk about what it's like in Kentucky and Delaware but also, quite specifically, how religion will play a role in at least one major Connecticut race.
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I agree wholeheartedly. It's
I agree wholeheartedly. It's sad that, as they said on the show, we'll see a lesbian president before and atheist president.
Article Six & Christians vs. Witches
I called into the show to point out that the Sixth Article of the Constitution specifies that "...no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." We hear a lot about the separation of church and state in the First Amendment, but not nearly as much about this clause, which seems very clear to me.
I also mentioned that people with religious beliefs have wacky ideas. I stand by that, but I'll explain myself a bit. One can have very good ideas about public policy despite having religious beliefs, but when we let religion and religious ideas enter into the debate, we start talking about whether or not talking snakes are more believable than flying broomsticks (yes, I know these can be seen as unfair generalizations, but there are people out there that believe that stuff!). Of course, we don't say that out loud any more (because we know it sounds silly), but that is what it boils down to. Let's talk about things that matter instead of silly myths!
That said, I love political theater, so if sanity were to reign, I would be much more sad during campaign season!
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