Quote:
Originally Posted by peter12
Does having a religious leader even make a difference?
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I've been chatting about this topic with a few folks I know for the past few days.
Insofar as someone actually believes the principles/prophecies of their faith, that's certainly something I take into account in judging, ultimately, their mental aptitude for high office.
I mean, there's Bush before the Iraq invasion mumbling about how the sinister "Gog and Magog" must surely be afoot in the Middle East. And tomorrow, the Americans could potentially elect a president who's devoted much of his life to the legacy of an illiterate 19th century treasure hunter who claims to have found a stack of all-telling golden plates buried on a hill after listening to the whispers of angels in his ear. Right on, here's the key to 12 thousand nuclear warheads, my man!
I personally think that the fate of the human race will always be at higher risk in a world where individuals cling to any sort of dogma, be it religious or not. For example, it concerns me that so many millions and millions of people around the world hold the view that some patches of dirt on the planet are more holy than other patches of dirt. In an era of advanced technology and weaponry, that's not only outmoded and embarrassing, but extremely dangerous.