One Nation, Under Dog

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/09/22/4-ways-the-no-religion-boom-will-alter-american-politics.html

I find this article of particular interest since I do consider myself a so-called "secular voter.

It's intriguing to imagine the transformation in our society from the dawn of Christianity to today, where we are quickly becoming less and less religious. Those who are extremely faithful might consider this an affront to tradition, but I believe it is inevitable with the transformations our society has undergone, especially in the last one hundred years.

One of those changes would definitely be a closer affinity to the material, rather than the immaterial. We are, essentially, a less "holy" society than the people Jesus Christ first knew and converted, or even than that of a later period, around say, the Crusades? Over time, people began to express themselves, wondering why they HAD to listen to every single word of the Catholic Church. Hence, Protestants were born. And Jews, Mormons, etc. The Eastern side of this is a whole other idea in and of itself.

In a way, this could be related to the apparent "turning of the tides" in American politics. People in this century, much like those over the thousands of years before, are realizing that they do not need religion in their lives to be satisfied, and I am inclined to agree that this "No Religion" boom will alter politics, perhaps for the better. Less patrons at church means less appeal to religious values, especially in the political arena. This means that even the Republicans will have to start leaning a little more to the left, just to capture voters' attention.

Wouldn't it be a shame to have almost nobody voting Republican just because they're just too damned devout?

With the Republicans facing the possibility of "liberalizing" their party, even if it's only slightly, it is my personal hope that we will have the opportunity to pass more items on the social agenda. For example, legalizing gay marriage, and potentially closing the debate on abortion.

I believe once we take these steps and once everyone realizes that yes, homosexuals are people too, who have just as much right as you do to get married, we will have a stronger and more cohesive society. Who needs religion anyways?

Kicking It Off With an Almighty, "YES WE CAN!"

http://www.usnews.com/listings/ten-obama-faith-moments/intro

As the President of the United States, you'd think Obama would be worried about being guilty of hypocrisy.

Guess again.

As the President of the United States, you'd think Obama would be worried about being guilty of hypocrisy.

Guess again.

Although I am a registered Democrat and did vote for Obama in the 2008 election, the man just keeps selling me on how apparently balanced he is.

Obama's "Faith" moments aren't just geared toward Christians or the overtly religious, those akin to himself, but are also supportive of alternative gender and racial identities. He invited megapastor Rick Warren to give the opening prayer at his inauguration, a prayer which, thankfully, did not insult or attempt to convert. On the other side of the ballpark, Obama extended an invitation to Reverend Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop.

This is just one example of the 10 listed by US News.

Is Obama just trying to cover his bases and do the "popular" thing, or does he actually believe in equality strong enough to promote and include extreme opposites in his very own swearing-in?

I believe this is an important issue to consider, especially in an age where people are so strongly biased towards or against religion. With about 78% of America calling themselves Christian (Obama falling into that 78%), atheists, Jews, agnostics, Muslims, and other underrepresented religious (or unreligious) followings don't really seem to have the upper hand of the majority.

As a proud atheist (Don't try to convert me, I warn you, I've spent my entire life watching my mother send Mormon after Mormon from the front door, having thoroughly torn them from their argument about why "the Church of Latter-Day Saints is perfect for you"), I can only hope that more will follow in Obama's footsteps and promote this religious diversity.

The only way out of this mess we're in is to accept that we're all human beings anyways, a fact people often forget when they're fundamentally fixated on how Jesus will save you from eternal damnation.