Obama has discussed his faith but not the way the GOP or people like Dobbs want.

Well, at least he doesn't use God as an excuse to implement constraints on citizens' activities or prayer in public schools.

Still, this religious stuff irks me.  To me, a guy talking about his faith in *god* is like talking about faith in a magical unicorn.

Which is why Seperation of Church and State is so important and why Bush scared me with Jesus talking to him

That wasn't Jesus talking to Bush...it was Dick Cheney hiding behind the curtains in the Oval Office ;-) 

Thanks jeter, do you know what snorting beer out yer nose feels like?  ;)

Ha! Actually I do ;-)

Or maybe the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

www.venganza.org

I've said it once, I'll say it again. For guys like this, you not only have to be Christian, but you have to be the RIGHT kind of Christian, none other shall do.

Actually, if you question Mitt Romney's faith, you're told it's a private matter and shouldn't be taken into consideration when choosing a candidate.

Oh yeah, forgot about that one. Mitt and his penchant for privacy because he's a Mormon. That being said though, I've only met a very few Mormons in my time on this planet, but every single one of them have been stand up people, and just, well, nice. Even the occassional Momon that comes to my door. I tell them, thanks, but I don't believe in organized religion, and they say, OK, have a good day, thanks for speaking with us for a few minutes, and go along their way. Nice folks those Mormons, far as I can tell. I feel sort of bad for them though. No beer? How can one live?

I don't see why it should "irk" you if someone has faith.  Seems rather intolerant to disparage someone's belief's.  If they don't force them on you what is the problem.  Seem's as intolerant as someone who bashes you for your lack thereof. 

Well said Lost.  As long as nobody forces their religious faith on anyone else, it shouldn't "irk" anyone.

Would you have a problem if, say, Giuliani said he doesn't believe in any of the organized religion gods but he believes in a magical unicorn instead ?  Wouldn't you think he was nuts if he kept babbling on and on about the magical unicorn ?   Be honest here, and remember, we're talking about a person who might become President !  Would you really want a magical unicorn worshipper as your country's leader ?

I don't see why it should "irk" you if someone has faith.  Seems rather intolerant to disparage someone's belief's.

Actually, if there's intolerance in this country, it's toward those who don't believe as the majority does.  Look at the polls to see how many would vote for an avowed atheist for President. 

Yet when a bunch of people profess that they believe they're eating the blood and body of a guy who died almost 2000 years ago and then rose from the dead, everyone just nods and says "Amen."  People use this "belief" to justify all sorts of things, including some of the most intolerant acts ever perpetrated against mankind.

But those of us who would argue reason over faith, we're supposed to be tolerant.

Amen. 

Bitter, perhaps you misunderstood my post or missed the post I was responding to.  I think both sides should show tolerance.  I have a problem with bashing on either side or people telling us what we should or should not believe in.  If they are not putting their belief or lack thereof on me then I have no issue with those that have faith or don't.  You seem to think tolerance is a one way street. 

Lostlogic, to be fair, Atheist didn't try to tell anyone what to believe, just stated that it irked him/her to hear the religious talk from politicians. An honest expression of belief that seemed to irk a few here.

I usually stay out of this zone, as I've been accused of religion-bashing enough times, and don't like insulting people on the issue of faith.It's too personal an issue to even try to find a comfortable playing field.

I'm not religious at all, but understand that the vast majority of people on the planet are.I don't sweat the fact that every coin in my pocket promotes religion, or that somebody inevitably gives me a supernatural blessing if I sneeze.I wish I was as comfortable stating my beliefs publicly, unfortunately, I usually get the reponse that Atheist did.

Besides, Atheist once nominated Michael Weiner "Wurst Person in the World", and I shall not forget that ! ;0)

HBL,I understand what you’re saying and since people of faith do comprise the majority they unquestionably have been more effective imposing their beliefs on society and at times they have persecuted non-believers often severely, but I believe Lost is speaking of the intolerant rhetoric that can emanate from both radical religious elements and radical atheist element s. Now I believe that some of that rhetoric and “attitude” from radical atheists is reactionary from having been maligned and marginalized for many years. I’ve seen that played out in my AA community. I also understand your comments about the money and all; but I hope that Atheist don't adopt the obnoxiousness that certainly spews forth from the radical religious right at times. It might feel good for the moment but it won't do any of us any good in the long run. I would love it if everybody would just chill and cool down the rhetoric.  

What is a "radical atheist" ???  If you talk about radical religious people, I would think you are talking about the ones that protest military funerals and bomb abortion clinics.  Do you see ANY atheists doing these kinds of things ??  What do atheists do that you consider "radical" ?  Be vocal ?  Religious people are like that.  Write books ?  Religious people do that.  Please explain.

It's irks me because it should be irrelevant.  It is not important what holy club the guy belogns to.

EXCEPT that for some (usually on the right, but not alwasy) it a signal that abortion will be outlawed, gays will have no rights, free speech will be abridge, evolution won't be taught is schools (or it will be left up to the states to decide), prayer and radical religious indoctrination will be force don our kids.

If you believe in the serperationn of church and state, then your religion is purely a personal matter and need not be discussed.  If you DON'T believe in the serperationn of church and state then you are a dangerous theocrat, and as big a threat to what america stands for as Bin Laden is, and should have no place or platform in making public policy.

Religion has no place in politics, except to sucker votes out of the ignorant.

I agree and unfortunately some Atheists are as intolerant of the beliefs of others as the people in the religious right are. Bill Maher specifically comes to mind. I love Bill's show and I rarely miss it, but he drives me crazy when he goes off on his how stupid are those people that believe in God tangents. I believe what I believe and I respect others right to believe as they chose, but nobody has a right to force their beliefs and religious-philosophical tenets on society and that goes for the radical religious people and the radical atheists.

Thanks to all of the people who spoke on my behalf while I was not in front of my computer to respond myself.

Re "tolerance" ... why should I be expected to respect or even empathize with a belief I think is completely absurd ?  Should I respect a person who thinks they are receiving direct communications from space aliens ?  Or a person who claims to see and hear ghosts ?  Or a person who thinks everyone is out to get them ?  Where is the line ?

To atheists, god is just one of many fictional supernatural beings, and it really drives us batty that so many otherwise logical and rational people believe in this being.  Worse, these people are constantly crediting this being for their good fortunes ... but never blaming it for their problems ... I digress ....

I'm going to be completely honest and say that I think god belief is a psychological disorder .  We would think a person who claims to be recieving communications from space aliens is psychologically disordered, why should god belief be any different ?

I won't even get into the massive profits and power of the big businesses of religion.

And just remember, y'all started out atheists.  You didn't know about supernatural beings until someone told you about them.

I find it very interesting that almost always people take on the religion of their parents.  There can only be at most one correct religion, isn't it strange that so many of you are misled by your parents ?

Oh I could go on and on here !  But I'll stop for now.

Wait, one last thing.  You can believe in supernatural beings if you want to.  If you truly want us to coexist in peace, don't shove your belief on me, don't make me pay for it, don't require me to adhere to your religious rules, and don't expect me to respect your belief.

Lou, Lou .... you're getting as bad as Robert No-Facts.

Well, if he's a Democrat and he's religious, he must be insincere, right?  That's what Dobbs is going on.

I agree completely with your summary.

Justice and Truth in the USA - Fact Check:

Lou Dobbs is correct.  Barack Obama is a senator.

Wikipedia

"Barack Hussein Obama (born August 4, 1961) is the junior United States Senator"

---------------------------------------------

I have to call this one FOR Lou Dobbs.

; )

OMG! JustUs is really OpenMind! Oh, noooooooo! Not Mr. JustUs, he'll be mean to me!!! Why, why???

Nice work, Openmind.The worst part is you had me going until I saw your name. Har!

It's great to have an open mind, just not so open you're brains fall out .... oops, too late.

of course, that should be your brains, not you're brains.

Geez Open_Mind you had me fooled too!

My first thought was oh boy this guy J & T has really gone around the bend ;-)

Jeter, Snoop and HBL,

I hoped you guys would appreciate that. I enjoyed reading your responses. 

As for JustUs, my imitation should be taken as sincere flattery.  I am your biggest fan.  No hard feelings.

: )

You must be channeling him/her, because that was perfect mimicry. Nice work on that one. It would not surprise me if he/she had posted that one up there him/herself. I love it when severe crazy right wingers point to Obama's middle name as some sort of "proof" that he's not really a Christian, and that he supports terrorists because his middle name is Hussein (also known as one of the most popular names in Muslim circles, sort of like Smith).

Good stuff.