Faith Affects Voting

Whether or not we realize it, our beliefs, our faith affects how we view the world and subsequently how we vote. This is one of those topics that has implications whether you adhere to any faith or no faith. Many folks seem to think that because they do not belong to any church or synagogue that they are somehow better able to deal with public policy issues than those “religious nuts” who actually believe that the Bible is true.

Believe it or not, ideas have consequences. What or whom you have faith in can, and generally does, affect how you vote. I will illustrate how this is true in the area of abortion. Before I do, I need to clarify a few items.

It is helpful to define the term “faith”. Many people mischaracterize faith as a blind leap of faith, or religious wishful thinking. However, the case can be made that faith really means trust. I was a large boy growing up. I did not interact well with most patio furniture. I could not put my trust in that furniture because it was not reliable.

We all put our trust in something. However, we must find out if that which we put our trust is truly reliable to hold us up. Many people put their faith, or trust, in God. Some put their faith, or trust, in government.

Those who believe in God generally believe that they must do what they can to affect the society for the sake of good versus doing just what affects them selfishly. Good versus evil. Right versus wrong. They believe in traditional Judeo/Christian values (and it doesn’t matter if you are a part of either religion-I am speaking to the overarching values). One of the main roles of government, then, is to protect the innocent. And a main issue that illustrates this is the issue of abortion.

Many folks believe that the unborn is a human being, distinct from its parents, and deserving of the chance to live. They do not believe that this should be a right, women have, to kill something that is not a part of their body. [Incidentally, if it is a boy child, he has a penus. Mom doesn’t. Therefore, not a woman’s body and not to be killed- this is a very rough characterization of one pro-life position]

Because this view is guided by their trust in God and a desire to do the right thing, their faith will and should influence how they vote.

Consequently, if you put your trust in something other than God, that faith, or trust, will affect how you vote. If you don’t believe God creates people, that they are valuable from conception, then that will affect how you vote.