Voting based on direction or conscience?

[Jack]

Beyond one somewhat cryptic passage in the New Testament that has Jesus saying his followers should "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's", neither Jesus or his disciples had much to say about how Christians ought to vote. No wonder, voting as we know it didn't exist in the Middle East at that time.

So I'm curious about modern Christians and their attitude as to how to vote, and I'll use the upcoming presidential election as an example. Do theists believe that it's their responsibility to vote their conscience regardless of how they are urged to vote by a minister/pastor/priest, or they are obligated to follow the admonishments of their leaders and vote as they are instructed?

The current race between Obama and Romney must be a difficult one for mainstream Christians. I'm seeing numerous clergy denounce Obama as socialistic, gay friendly, atheist friendly and an enemy of the evangelical right. On the other hand it appears to pain them to advocate for Romney since many of them don't consider Mormons to be "real" Christians. They're between a rock and a hard place.

Will Christians, especially moderate to liberal ones, vote their conscience if they believe Obama would be a better choice than Romney or will they follow the advice of their leaders and vote for Romney? How important are the opinions of religious leaders in guiding the voting habits of Christians? Once in the booth, do Christians primarily consider their own opinions about the candidates or vote as they've been advised?

[finder]

Once in the booth, do Christians primarily consider their own opinions about the candidates or vote as they've been advised?

I vote my conscience.

[Angry Citizen]

The Christian right has so thoroughly swallowed the Republican pandering to their demographic that they'll vote for anyone who has an R next to their name.

[theophilus]

Christians have a responsibility to fulfill all their responsibilities as citizens and that includes voting. We should vote for the candidate who we feel will do the best job if elected and that is what I intend to do.

But we have another responsibility that is even more important. We are commanded to pray for our country.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

This would include praying for wisdom in deciding who we should vote for.

[Jack]

So does voting your conscience always take precedent over any influence a religious leader might try to exercise over you? If a leader in your church or congregation implied that the only acceptable candidate is Obama, for example, and you feel strongly that Romney would do a better job, would you be more inclined to follow your own guidance or would you feel compelled to vote the way your leaders encouraged you to? What if your leader said or implied that god wants you to vote for a particular candidate?

I'm asking because we atheists often get annoyed when the Pope or some other religious leader gets all political and suggests that "good Christians" would only vote for _______. If indeed the majority of the religious vote their conscience and don't pay much if any attention to the suggestions from the leaders then we may be getting annoyed for no good reason.

The same issue was raised during the Prop. 8 vote in California. The Mormon church infused a ton of money into ensuring gays couldn't marry apparently without any regard as to how individual Mormons might feel about the topic. At the time I wondered if Mormons felt compelled to vote against gay marriage to comply with the wishes of the leadership or if they felt at all free to vote according to their own conscience in the matter.

[xx_mortekai_xx]

So does voting your conscience always take precedent over any influence a religious leader might try to exercise over you? If a leader in your church or congregation implied that the only acceptable candidate is Obama, for example, and you feel strongly that Romney would do a better job, would you be more inclined to follow your own guidance or would you feel compelled to vote the way your leaders encouraged you to? What if your leader said or implied that god wants you to vote for a particular candidate?

I'm asking because we atheists often get annoyed when the Pope or some other religious leader gets all political and suggests that "good Christians" would only vote for _______. If indeed the majority of the religious vote their conscience and don't pay much if any attention to the suggestions from the leaders then we may be getting annoyed for no good reason.

The same issue was raised during the Prop. 8 vote in California. The Mormon church infused a ton of money into ensuring gays couldn't marry apparently without any regard as to how individual Mormons might feel about the topic. At the time I wondered if Mormons felt compelled to vote against gay marriage to comply with the wishes of the leadership or if they felt at all free to vote according to their own conscience in the matter.

I obviously cant speak for others, but my issue with religious leaders openly endorsing a candidate is simple: I wish they would stay the hell out of politics. The US government does far more cowtowing to religion than it should, considering how this country was founded. (to be clear, this country was founded as a secular nation which gives no preference to any religion. We have sadly sprinted away from that with gusto)

When I was religious, i only voted twice, and voted for the candidates who were religious and conservative. I figured if they had god and the 'right' mindset, we couldnt go wrong. I weep for the former me.

[finder]

The same issue was raised during the Prop. 8 vote in California. The Mormon church infused a ton of money into ensuring gays couldn't marry apparently without any regard as to how individual Mormons might feel about the topic. At the time I wondered if Mormons felt compelled to vote against gay marriage to comply with the wishes of the leadership or if they felt at all free to vote according to their own conscience in the matter.

Labor unions do the same thing and I agree with you, it's annoying. That's why I vote my conscience. Though we are to pray for wisdom both for the officials in government and ourselves as we fulfill our obligations as Theo said.

[iolo]

You have to give the Republicans everything that doesn't belong to God, clearly, if such things there be. Jesus was making a joke about alleged Jewish patriots carrying money with the imperialist bossman's graven image on it.

[theophilus]

So does voting your conscience always take precedent over any influence a religious leader might try to exercise over you?

I would vote according to my conscience but I wouldn't acknowledge someone as a spiritual leader unless I agreed with most of his views so I would take his opinions into consideration in making my decisions.

I obviously cant speak for others, but my issue with religious leaders openly endorsing a candidate is simple: I wish they would stay the hell out of politics.

Religious leaders are affected by our laws just like everyone else so they have the same right to try to influence those who make the laws.

(to be clear, this country was founded as a secular nation which gives no preference to any religion.

That statement is only half right. We were founded as a nation that doesn't give preference to any religion but we were not founded as a secular nation. The Declaration of Independence bases its authority on God's laws.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

[Apeman81]

Beyond one somewhat cryptic passage in the New Testament that has Jesus saying his followers should "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's", neither Jesus or his disciples had much to say about how Christians ought to vote. No wonder, voting as we know it didn't exist in the Middle East at that time.

So I'm curious about modern Christians and their attitude as to how to vote, and I'll use the upcoming presidential election as an example. Do theists believe that it's their responsibility to vote their conscience regardless of how they are urged to vote by a minister/pastor/priest, or they are obligated to follow the admonishments of their leaders and vote as they are instructed?

The current race between Obama and Romney must be a difficult one for mainstream Christians. I'm seeing numerous clergy denounce Obama as socialistic, gay friendly, atheist friendly and an enemy of the evangelical right. On the other hand it appears to pain them to advocate for Romney since many of them don't consider Mormons to be "real" Christians. They're between a rock and a hard place.

Will Christians, especially moderate to liberal ones, vote their conscience if they believe Obama would be a better choice than Romney or will they follow the advice of their leaders and vote for Romney? How important are the opinions of religious leaders in guiding the voting habits of Christians? Once in the booth, do Christians primarily consider their own opinions about the candidates or vote as they've been advised?

My pastor avoids discussing politics almost completely.

I vote based upon my beliefs concerning the matters of state.

[loser]

If I'm not on the ballot, I don't vote. My conscience tells me that ALL candidates are unworthy as the system is broke. Who in their right mind would vote per someone else's direction?

The verse you referenced had nothing to do with voting, it was referring to paying taxes (obeying the laws of the land). Jesus nor His disciples were interested in politics. They were, however, interested in social change, one heart at a time.

[iolo]

If I'm not on the ballot, I don't vote. My conscience tells me that ALL candidates are unworthy as the system is broke. Who in their right mind would vote per someone else's direction?

The verse you referenced had nothing to do with voting, it was referring to paying taxes (obeying the laws of the land). Jesus nor His disciples were interested in politics. They were, however, interested in social change, one heart at a time.

They seem to have had some very unRepublican views on the rich, however.