Religious effects on Politics

I have always been told not to mix religion and politics so like the good obedient Gen Z-er I am
not...let's talk about it.
Let's start out with a couple of questions. What religion do you identify with? What do you like in a
president ? What is your political party? Would you be willing to vote for an atheist if you align with your
Ideals? When I asked that last question, most people would say “yes, of course” as long as they don't live
in the bible belt that is. Don't you find it interesting that every single significant political candidate from
Trump to Nancy Pelosi mentions being a part of a god-based faith when nobody seemed to ask them in
the first place? I find it even more funny that Bernie Sanders never came out as particular faith and his
opponents attempt to use that as a weapon because they “thought that I would weaken his political
standing”. Having religion anywhere near anything is alway a bad idea.
Religion in politics equals identity politics. Identity politics is when “people of a particular, race,
social backgrounds and form an alliance” solely based on that fact. This type of thinking can cause a
plethora of issues when vetting the moral compass of our political candidates. Just because a person
claims that they are devoted to a religion doesn't mean that they are being truthful. I believe that people in
politics stretch the truth when it comes to their devoutness, I'm not saying that they are non-believers, I'm
just saying that they play it up for the cameras. It should go without saying that a person's religious
standing does not determine what kind of person they are and what kind of president/ politicians they are.
Americans should be voting for people who align with the change that they want to see in the world.
America is categorized as being medium high when it comes to religion, so knowing that fact it doesn't
surprise me that a Gallup poll concluded that 40% of people will not vote for an atheist on that fact alone. I
have never heard a actually good secular explanation as to why having an atheist as a president is a bad
thing.
Personally I wholeheartedly believe that a secular government would be the best thing for
america. I have made it clear that I do not support bringing any kind of religious belief in the government.
Other people's views on how the world started should be kept personal and not political. Just because I
think that animals dropped from the sky 40 million years ago doesn't mean that I should be able and
encouraged to enforce millions of people to relive that as well. There should be no laws created with
religious backing. You might say that “there are no laws that have religion back”, as much as I wish that
they're true, it is not. In 2016, just 4 years ago, Mississippi’s Phil Bryant signed a “weeping bill” that“allows
businesses to openly discriminate against the LGBT community based on the businesses personal
religion, HB1523. Phill Bryant claims that is homophobic bill is to “protect sincerely held religious beliefs
and moral convictions”. This is a government official openly letting people discriminate and taking it one
step farther and calling it moral. I was really hoping that this was a one of a kind thing, but it is not. In
Oklahoma House Bill 1007, and in Florida House Bill 43 will allow church to refuse to host and marry
people apart LGBT+ community. Just like the law in Mississippi, allowing open discrimation again a
community that just want to be equal and have the same right as any other american. Just think if gay
people stop serving straight couples at bakery or lawfers only based on the fact that they heterosexual.
Do you know how many people would protest and be pissed that their right to marriage was limited or
taken away. All of the above listed reasons are my having a secular government would be better than a
religious based government. A secular government would make law in favor of its people being not in the
will of a god that is not confirmed to exist.
Through this editorial I have distinctly said my faith. It is because I don't have one really, I don’t
truly think that there is anything out there. Some take comfort in thinking that they are here for another
purpose, a higher power, that their life is not just for nothing; or that there is something that they need to
do to find the ultimate answer to life. If people want to live their life according to a book that they think
holds all the answers, that's fine, I have no qualms about it. My problem lies within how people go about
living their life. In most instances nobody is forcing them into something they don't believe in but that is
exactly what religion in politics is doing to others. Just because a person is religious, doesn't mean that
they have the right to be racist, homofobic, etc. to others. As long as the faith is not calling for people to
hurt or exclude others by the previously mentioned criteria then I think it's fine.

Notes:
Look for patterns in the editorials - in the beginning of the editorial

1. Explain why I am writing the editorial

2. Let talk about politic in religion
3. I don't care who your god and I don't care if you care.
4. Don't you think that it is funny that...

Where the religious belief come from in the first place

Calling out people for identifying with religion
You can go to the poles wearing you cross but that doesn't have to influence your voting
decision

Why would it be better as more as a secular world? (Court cases)

What am I/ what I think - secular humanist - talk about atheist static.

1. Explain why I am writing the editorial

2. Let talk about politic in religion