by Roger Morse

Created on: August 18, 2007

It is impossible for your faith, whether Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Humanism, or "Science" NOT to have an influence on your voting. Our beliefs and faith will direct how we view the issues of the day and will lead us to vote in a certain way. We will, indeed, vote for those who will support as many of our views as we can, and this is a good thing.

In a secular, pluralistic society, everyone has a right to vote. Since we come from many different faiths and systems of belief, we have chosen to let the majority rule. Our votes determine who is in the majority on any given issue. During elections, we have the opportunity for many debates and all persuasions of thought are given air and consideration. This generally leads to a consensus, as it should.

If we limit the discussion, avoid listening to opinions that differ from our own, or worse, squelch dissent, we grow one-dimensional in our thinking and in our actions. This is the pattern that led to Nazi Germany and keeps millions of Chinese in virtual slavery. The more we debate our ideas in the public forum, the more we chew on differing ideas, the better chance we have to grow a powerful, robust society. Our faith and ideas may not always win in a given election, but we should always presume that we may be heard.

Should our faith influence our vote? It must unless we have devolved into mindless automatons incapable of anything grander than watching another rerun of the Three Stooges.

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