I Don’t Want Candidates to Preach to Me—Separation of Church and State Matters to Me

With the upcoming 2008 presidential election, each candidate has a number of tough issues to address including the War in Iraq, abortion, gay marriage, the environment, the economy, etc. While all of these issues are important and need to be examined carefully by each candidate before they make a decision about which stance they will take on them, I think the question of HOW they make their choice is also of equal importance.

As a young voter, I think everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If a candidate thinks abortion is wrong, I’d like to know what motivates them to think this way. If they say “I think abortion is wrong because I feel its murder.” I’m ok with that, and I can respect their opinion whether I agree with them or not. However, I tend to be offended when I hear a candidate say “I think abortion is wrong because God says it's wrong.” What God? Your God? My God? What about the people who don’t believe in any God? We’re supposed to have a separation between church and state in this country, so why bring God into your reasoning behind what stance you take on an issue? If your religious beliefs are the driving force behind how you vote and what laws you choose to pass, how is that keeping church and state separate?

The First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of religion. If the lawmakers and presidential candidates are allowing their personal religious views to determine how they vote, how are they guaranteeing freedom of religion? If they outlaw gay marriage or abortion because their God says they should, what about the people who don’t believe in their God? Why should they be subjected to following a law based on something they don’t believe in?

When I look at a candidate I’m not looking for their religious affiliation, I look at their stance on the issues and the steps they’ve taken to resolve an issue. I don’t want to be preached to. I have my own views and can form my own opinions based on the facts. If I want religious commentary, I’ll attend a religious service. I’m not saying its wrong to be religious or its wrong not to be religious, people should live their lives in whatever way makes them happy. I also don’t believe that potential political leaders should be trying to sway people’s votes by trying to appeal to them on a religious moral level. If I like a candidate because of their stance on the issues and I hear them start preaching about how “God says this is wrong”, it’s going to turn me off and make me try to find someone who doesn’t have the “holier than thou” attitude.

People who are planning to vote in the 2008 election need to be able to think for themselves. Don’t allow someone’s religious views to cloud your judgment and ability to pick the candidate with the best ideas and solutions for an issue. Challenge yourself to look beyond where and who someone worships. Take a look at the issues that they see as important and what they plan to do about them, find out the facts, and make an educated decision. They’re not running for president of a religious organization, they’re running to represent and protect everyone in this country, not just the people who practice the same religion as them.

Jamie Gibson '08
Wilkes University
Communication Studies