Religion Impacts Voters cont.

“I would like to vote for a leader who has a similar sense of morality to that which I think is consistent with what I think God would like for our culture,” Sather said.

Sather also realizes that one has to think beyond oneself.

“I walk into a voting booth wearing my hat, concerned about my issues and if I were a really smart voter, I would take that hat off and put on my American hat and vote for what is really good for the United States of America, even if it wasn’t best for me,” Sather said.

Baalmann is voting this November and even though his religion does play an influence on his vote, he said that is not the only factor.

“I would never vote for someone on their religion, but my religion does dictate certain ethical issues that I tend to vote upon. My religion defines my ethical decisions and where I stand on some political issues.”

Sather believes it is fair to ask presidential candidates where they stand spiritually.

“It does give an indication of that moral compasshow they will define what is right and wrong, what is good and bad,” he said.

In this upcoming election, religion holds an influence over the votes of Americans. How much of an influence is based on a person’s conscience. Because of this influence, Evans thinks to be president, you have to hold religious beliefs.

“Nobody in this climate will get elected who doesn’t have a religion and who doesn’t wear it on his or her shoulder. It’s important in American culture for people to display their religions. This hasn’t always been the case, but it is right now.”

To enter into politics as a person who holds religious beliefs, Evans said there has to be compromise.

“Politics is the art of the possible. It’s really about compromises and so the question is for religious people, how much compromise about things that matter are they going to be able to do. Because you will never be able to achieve everything you want or believe you are morally or religiously required to do.”
She also said that those who are most dangerous in the political arena are those unwilling to compromise; they are the ones who cause the most trouble.

“People who are really dangerous in politics are those unwilling to do either one of those and who are absolutely uncompromising and insist in being in politics. They are the ones who break heads. Religious people to get into politics require them to moderate their goals and be willing to say ‘I am willing to take a half a loaf.” Evans said.

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