Which religious and humanist leaders have had a major impact on American politics or culture?
William McKenzie notes in the latest Texas Faith blog that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. played a significant role in shaping American politics and culture within the past half-century. And to that there is no question, not even from a Humanist like myself. Indeed, King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” is as much of a [...]
What role should religious leaders have in choosing and supporting a political candidate?
A meeting of conservative evangelicals in Texas last weekend included James Dobson, John Hagee, and the leader of group that sponsored Rick Perry’s prayer rally in Houston last year. Presumably, they are attempting to influence the Republican primary race to exclude Mitt Romney from the nomination. And Texas is no stranger to religious leaders mixing [...]
Summary: Should sexual immorality disqualify an otherwise capable candidate?
This week’s question asks if “sexual immorality” among candidates for political office (with specific consideration to the personal histories of Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain, respectively) should be a consideration when evaluating a candidate’s qualifications for office. Marilyn Westfall, First Unitarian Universalist Church in Lubbock: I think that sexual and marital history are facets of an individual [...]
Summary: Should Herman Cain’s accusers step forward?
This week’s question addresses the accusations of sexual harassment that have been levied against Presidential candidate Herman Cain. Below, the Texas Reason panel responds to the question of whether or not the women who have accused Cain of sexually harassing them have an obligation to provide the public with details of the alleged encounters. Dale Husband, Humanists [...]
Should Herman Cain’s accusers step forward?
To be a woman and a victim of sexual harassment is something that I frankly cannot fathom. I can certainly empathize with the emotional and mental scars that victims deal with, and also their sense of righteous indignation when their perpetrator is allowed to continue with his or her life, relatively unscathed. When that (alleged) [...]
Summary: Should the word “sin” be part of our political vocabulary?
Zachary Moore, Coordinator of the Dallas/Fort Worth Coalition of Reason: Although the cardinal sins of the Christian theological system (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, anger, envy, and pride) are characteristics that most people would consider unproductive, within the political process we often find them to be the marks of some of our most re-elected leaders. Read [...]
Should the word “sin” be part of our political vocabulary?
The first definition of ‘sin’ from The Free Dictionary online is “A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.” If the dictionary can’t keep religion out of the definition of sin, then the word ‘sin’ definitely doesn’t belong in American politics. And incorporating the word ‘sin’ can only be detrimental to the continuing struggle [...]
Should the word “sin” be part of our political vocabulary?
The word “sin” has been adapted by modern society to be refer to any morally bad act, or even just a transgression of the rules. Thus, an athlete using steroids could be said to committing a “sin” against their sport, even though such an act may not be morally bad according to any given religious system. Likewise, [...]
What does the Occupy movement say about American society?
The “Occupy” movement suggests that the so-called “American Dream” has gone sour. In times past, citizens dissatisfied with their lot in life would strike West into the great untamed frontier, and stake a claim to make a better life for themselves (notwithstanding the aboriginal Americans who already had done so). After the West was won, [...]
Are Perry and Obama responsible for the religious company they keep?
Perry and Obama (as well as the myriad other politicians who seek religious supporters) should not be held responsible for the foolish things said by religious leaders cum political allies. Most people recognize that, even if a politician does hold to a private religious opinion, it is much more likely that their public “friendships” with ministers and [...]