Should Politicians 'Do God'?

[Chil1234]

In an interview just now on Radio 2, Tony Blair mentioned that he had once wanted to round off a speech with the words 'God bless the United Kingdom'... US president-style. He was advised to drop it sharpish by his civil servants and admits that, culturally, the British public would have probably not reacted well to a Prime Ministerial blessing. He's also said before that if he'd made more of his christian faith when in office he could have been regarded as a 'nutter'.

Where are MN-ers on this one? Are openly religious politicians to be feared or admired? Do you want to see a bigger or smaller role for religious groups in society? Would you be happy for them to have any kind of power or influence on legislation or education?

Everyone who would like to see the PM ending a speech with "God bless the UK" is in church right now.

I doubt he would've been sincere when he said it anyway. The man's completely cuckoo bananas.

Politicians have every right to follow a religion and they shouldn't need to keep it a secret either. It's just we're not American, so why should we try to be like them? That sort of thing grates on British people. They're more patriotic too - British people just aren't like that.(Bit of a shame, really.)
The Americans are really more foreign to us than the French even though they speak the same language!

Following it is one thing. Using it as a way to get and stay elected (as in the US) is another and as he was advised, doesn't go down well.
I have to confess I teared up when Obama mentioned people of no faith in his inaugural speech - it is such a step forward.
I couldn't give a stuff about Blair's religious beliefs but he is right, he would have sounded like a nutter. Fine in church, fine at home if you run your home that way, not fine in politics at all.

Sorry it's not nice to describe someone like that. What I really mean is he just seems very hypocrytical and selfish. He can't be nutty really because he always knew exactly what he was doing.

I would like to know - before voting - whether my representative will actiually represent me, or whether religious orders from on high will be more important to him/her. But then I'm a bit old-fashioned about the function of politicians.

Blair has gone off the scale since leaving office. He now comes across (especially in that interview with Aled Jones) as a zealous evangelical nutjob.

I think when a politician is speaking "officially", they shouldn't "do God". I wouldn't say "God bless you/us/anyone" if I was winding up a meeting at work, because I don't think it is the appropriate place for religion.

Plenty of people at work know that I have faith, and that it can sometimes affect my views on things, and I don't think anyone should feel they have to keep it secret. But its not part of my job to express it during meetings, work emails, documents etc.

Whether or not they 'do God' publicly, they will be doing God subliminally in all they do if they have religious belief surely?

No, politicians should not go public with the god thing.
Firstly because spiritual stuff is different for everyone and should remain in the private sphere-- not be used as a political ticket to gain votes.
There is no bearded man in the sky I believe, unless of course 'he' is on some far away planet yet to be discovered!
Reality is what needs to be addressed, not a question of religious faith.

Yes OLKN and Semibreve, politicians should be answerable to us, the people who elect them, not some magical sky fairy.

Their first (and only) priority is to the people and as such a god/gods should not be part of their role.

In a word, No.

Unfortunately TB did - we might not have got embroiled in Iraq if he and Bush hadn't been prayer buddies who thought it was gods will

I would include members of the House of Lords in this issue - getting a seat courtesy of having roughly the same irrational beliefs as Henry VIII makes little sense to me