Do you agree with Romney? What do atheists say?

Question

Shouldn't it be "freedom requires HOPE, not religion?"

"Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/06/r…

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Freedom is not predicated on nor bound to any religious belief. The idea that freedom MANDATES religious faith is self-contradictory. In actuality, most religions tend to inhibit freedom, not promote it. Mitt Romney is simply pandering for evangelicals whom otherwise may not have voted for him.

Answer 2

One more reason for me not to vote for him.

Answer 3

Religion imprisons the soul.

Answer 4

I really don't care what atheists say. What they think has as much effect on me as what I think has on them.

Answer 5

your right, he may have lost all of the atheist vote that he wasn't going to get anyways.

Answer 6

Does he believe that about states wherein Islam is the state sponsored religion? I wouldn't consider some nation-states with religion as their legislative core to be free.

I do agree with you regarding hope.

Answer 7

Freedom requires religion? No, I do not agree with that.

Answer 8

One thing that did bother me was that he kind of sort of only seemed to include the Abrahamic faiths. He didn't really include Wicca or Buhdists or Ba"Hai or Druid or Agnostics or whatever. But, he did come across as honest and I found that refreshing for what its worth. Not voting for him though.

Answer 9

In this case, Romney seems to be directly contradicting Thomas Jefferson (the drafter of the Declaration of Independence).

You can find many Jefferson quotes that assert religion is an opposing force to personal freedoms which he often refers to as liberty.

Answer 10

Nobody should vote for Romney. He's just another slick talking politician with no moral backbone.
Vote McCain or Huckabee.

Answer 11

Funny how he left out what religion does for freedom.
I'm no atheist, but I certainly don't believe in Romney's God, or the God of 90% of Christians out there. Kind of insulting that he should tell me that I need religion to be truly free.

Answer 12

Atheists have to create their own reason to

hope based upon their caring for humanity

and their belief in human intelligence to

bring about a better world.

Answer 13

Look at Afganistan,Pakistan,Iran,Sudan and see how well freedom, religion, and government co-mingle. In Sudan they want to execute a teacher for allowing a child to name his teddy bear Muhammad. hard line religion of any kind is dangerous, hard line christians are just as wacko as the hard line Islamics.

Answer 14

When Mitty said, "God gave us our freedom" I thought it had a little something to do with the revolutionary war that men fought, wasn't it?

Answer 15

LOL! The 1st amendment makes it clear that this government is to free of religion, Religion is nothing more than ancillary embellishment in United States history.

But I respect Mormon achievement with establishing Salt Lake City, it's a monument to socialism and people working together. Sad how Republicans don't learn lessons from that.

Answer 16

Why would hope need fantasy delusions? It doesn't. Sounds like political double talk to me.

Answer 17

As an atheist, I dont care two cents. Just tell me how you plan on running this circus and be done with it. As much culture and differences in opinions there is here, we all tend to pick between two sides and he seems to be splitting it three way which may not be bad but he forgets Americans are idiots and can barely agree on Jesus Christ and Christmas.

Answer 18

Romney's history and character are deeply entrenched in religious proclivities. His outspoken remarks regarding his belief in a more entwined religious and governmental connection (vis-à-vis freedom) is appalling.

How a man with such a non-secular belief system worked his way up to a potential presidential candidacy baffles me. Word to the wise and to those wishing to maintain America's secular democratic beliefs: DO NOT vote for Mitt Romney.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_romney#Early_life_and_family_background

Answer 19

I think freedom requires diligence. Mitt should read the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Amendment I
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
-- US Constitution and Bill of Rights:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/…

Answer 20

The man knows nothing about history or the culture of other countries if he believes that religion requires freedom. Maybe he knows it is not true, but assumes his audience doesn't, and focus groups liked the sound of it.

Answer 21

TMI (to much information)

I'm not ready for a Guru President.

Isn't there a good old fashioned warmonger General that can take the wheel for a while.

Answer 22

YES!

Answer 23

Yes, freedom requires religion. I define religion as someone's personal values system and how well they live up to the principles of that system.

Freedom cannot survive long without values systems which reflect moral principles whether you belong to an organized religion or not.

Answer 24

Their "hope" is our religion. Basically, there is no difference.
He is 100% correct. However, this shots down the radical Muslim, or anything else radical. At least, one of the candidates made a concrete stand on something!

Answer 25

I think this is more of a personal belief that Romney has, than an official docrine of the Mormon church. The Mormon church merely teaches that God uses free agency (freedom), and doesn't force anyone to be righteous. One of the Mormon church's Articles of Faith states: "We believe in the right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men to do the same--let them worship how, where, or what they may."

Don't be so paranoid that Romney is going to establish any kind of state religion, or prevent anyone from practicing their faith (or aetheism).

As for my interpretation of what Romney is saying, it is much easier to practice one's religion in a country that allows freedom of religion, so in that sense yes religion requires freedom.

Conversely, if religion is banned in a country, or if the government mandates everyone belong to a certain religion, it stifles free thinking. The Soviet Union was not a free country, and banned religion, and colapsed. So in that sense, yes freedom requires religion--freedom of religion (or freedom to not belong to any religion).

Answer 26

I agree. He is not knocking any specific religion. Our country was founded on religious beliefs . It is refreshing to see someone who is willing to stand up and face a lot of negative publicity for the things that they believe in. God bless him and his family, he has my vote.

Answer 27

THE WORLD WHOULD BE,A-BETTER ,WITH JESUS,IN-OUR,LIFE,PUT HIM BACK,,IN-OUR,LIFE....GOOD,LUCK TO BROTHER ..
ROMNEY,LIFE WITHOUT,OUR-HEAVENLY,..FATHER,IS,NOT,,,L…
A-SAME ,MORMAN,

Answer 28

Religion is any set of beliefs that you live by, whether you believe in a God or not (yes, atheism is a religion). You have to believe in freedom as a value for it to have any meaning, therefore freedom needs religion. Religion needs freedom because you need to be free to live according to your beliefs. One of the founding principals/beliefs that the United States was created, was the personal freedom each citizen has to practice or live by their own set of beliefs/religion. The people who settled this country came for the freedom to practice their religions. People who lived in communist countries for 40 years can tell you the difference between the hope to practice what they believe versus the actual freedom to practice it. They can also tell you how restrictive it is to be told what you are allowed to believe and what you are not.
So yes I agree with with him in this quote.

Re·li·gion
–noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6.***something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

Free·dom
–noun
1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial.
2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. the power to determine action without restraint.
4. political or national independence.
5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.

Source(s):

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