Why Are Religious Beliefs Off Limits? - Lawrence M. Krauss

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-m-krauss/election-2012-religion_b_1320886.html?ref=politics&ir=Politics


A month ago I wrote a piece making fun of Newt Gingrich's wild ideas about space exploration. In the interest of fairness, it is time to make fun of what are now the two leading Republican candidates ideas, not about space, but about heaven.

One might think that the religious beliefs of political candidates should remain off limits in public discourse. I don't think so, at least not when candidates wear their religion on their sleeves.

Candidates should have the right to keep their religious views private, but in the current climate essentially none of them actually do so. Rick Santorum has gone so far as to argue that John Kennedy's strict confirmation of the separation of church and state, which many consider one of the pillars of American democracy, should be discarded. In this case, it is all the more important to explore his theological views.

More generally, should we not be able to question whether the beliefs of the religion publicly espoused by a candidate may reflect on candidate's judgment and their ability to distinguish sense from nonsense? Why is it acceptable to dissect Newt Gingrich's fanciful plans for making the Moon a 51st state but not his implicit suggestion that Pope John Paul II was responsible, via divine intervention, for the fall of communism?

More at link

[Lint Head]

1. Rick Santorum should present an alternate plan of sending a rocket into space

to fined Heaven so people won't have to die to go there. That's why it's called heaven Rick.

[phantom power]

2. As usual conservatives want to have it both ways.

They want to be able to campaign on how their religion informs their values. In fact, Santorum appears to be outright arguing for a theocracy. But then they tell us we don't get to discuss their religion. Well, if you tell me your religion is going to influence your policymaking, that makes it our business.

If they are willing to publicly assert that they will keep their personal religion out of their public policy arguments, then I'll consider leaving their religion alone.

[pokerfan]

3. k&r

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Some are, some are not

People have published cartoons about Mormons baptizing the dead and its just fine.

We know what happens if you draw one about Islam or Mohamed

[AlbertCat]

5. Once again.... I will plug his lecture & book....

"A Universe From Nothing"

so interesting! The book goes into greater detail, and includes anything new that's come up since 2009. Also the last few chapters address the religious trolls' concerns and notions that have come up on the message board to the viral video.

http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Nothing-There-Something-Rather/dp/145162445X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330998121&sr=1-1