Religion in Politics: The Importance of Remaining Pragmatic While Voting

A common theme in the 2012 republican primaries has been a heavy focus on the religion of the candidates, as well as the public’s views and even stigmas around them. The problem with this is that it can often pollute the views of voters, believing that their mores and political viewpoints will automatically match those of the candidate based simply on whether or not they are affiliated with the same religion.

Take for instance the case of Mitt Romney, a Mormon republican candidate. The Mormon church has been somewhat alienated in the past due to issues with things such as polygamy and racism. While the church has since refined it’s official view on the matters it has left quite a lasting scar on the social representation of the organized religion. In a 2011 poll (conducted by June Gallup and posted on gallup.com) it was found that 22% of Americans would not vote for a Mormon candidate. This is a decision made before the Mormon candidate has even given their first words on any issue, and regardless of whether or not they share the voters political views, the candidate will not receive their vote.

This can be a very dangerous thing because it something that politicians are aware of and can exploit. By associating themselves with a popular religion and claiming to hold strongly to those beliefs, a candidate can sway many voters who would normally not agree with their policies. This is why it is so important to try to look past how the candidate presents themselves to the American people and really focus on what they themselves actually stand for.

This level objectivity can be something that is admittedly difficult to obtain. A voter must remember that who they are electing is someone who can lead the country through a hard time. This is not necessarily someone who they would like to join them on Sunday walks or to invite invite out to dinner, but who they believe has the political sense to push America towards prosperity. It is a very hard thing to do to try and make the separation of who you think is pleasant and who might be a proper leader, but it is something of absolute importance when thinking of the future of the country.

In an ideal world there would be no distractions that could deter us from making a proper decision, but the reality is that people want to know as much about a candidate as possible when they run for an election, for better or worse. So with so much information out their it becomes very important to look for what truly indicates a good leader and sift through all the rest. Only when the actual effects of a decision are studied can the right one hope to be made.