*UPDATED*
With the Democratic National Convention in the land of Billy Graham, there was one significant change to the party's official platform this week when it was unveiled.
No mention of God, specifically.
Republicans quickly fired back that God was mentioned in their platform 10 times.
The Democrats countered that their platform has plenty of inherent spirituality - mentioning faith, religion, religious, church and clergy many times throughout the document.
In 2008, the platform said: "We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values, and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential."
Then on Thursday (Sept. 6), the Democrats, flip-flopped, adding God back in after getting backlash from multiple sources.
But some polls are saying that a politician or political party's religious stance matter less to the public in this election than in the past.
dan t | Sep 6, 2012 | 2:26pm
Only if you consider the US Constitution godless, because that’s how often it appears there, too. One side is clearly pandering to the religious right, and trying to make political hay out of the fact that the other side isn’t.
Me, I’m a big believer in the separation of church and state. That enables people of all faiths to worship freely—essentially increasing the amount of religion and spirituality in society. What we have, though, is a situation where one side wants to impose its beliefs on all. That’s not godliness, that’s a theocracy.
Amanda Greene | Sep 6, 2012 | 2:39pm
Thank you Dan, you are always welcome here!
Jana Greene | Sep 7, 2012 | 2:07pm
Respectfully, I must disagree and suggest the other side of this debate. What you see by in the RNC platform as imposing beliefs on all, I see as people gathered in unity under the one God they serve, or at least aknowledge. Theocracy’s definition is:
a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God’s or deity’s laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities. Or, a system of government by priests claiming a divine commission.
I guess it depends on what you consider “imposing”. I believe in separation of church and state as well, but you cannot take faith out of the equation of people’s daily lives - which is (when you filter the bombastic-ness of politics down to the little people) what people care about.
If the mention of God offends, vote for the other guy who doesn’t make committal comments on beliefs in any way, shape or form in order to make “everybody” and offend no-one (talk about pandering?) But don’t expect people who live by faith to not notice when God is left out.
Again, It’s a wonderful thing that we can have these open discussions :)
Jana Greene | Sep 7, 2012 | 2:08pm
**happy**... To make “everyone” happy, I meant to type.
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