Is religion/faith an essential, integral part of the Republican party today?

Question

Did the founders of the party intend this connection?

Answer 1

no, from the fruits produced the core seems to be power, control, money....perhaps even for both parties, but definitely not faith.

Answer 2

No and No

The Party has gone through many changes over the years.  There are many non-religious people who are Republicans.  

Answer 3

yes and no.

The republican party was hijacked by the christian coalition during the 90's.

http://www.theocracywatch.org/taking_ove...

Thank Pat Robertson

Answer 4

Yes, the Republican party is against murdering children and believes Jesus when he said marriage is between a man and a woman.

Answer 5

I don't know if they intended the connection, but I'm sure they didn't intend it to be so strong or to be used as it is.

It seems to me, from listening to famous conservative, right-wing, and/or Republican TV and radio hosts, that they know their audience. They are using Christians... manipulating them... marketing specifically to them. They know how to get them worked up and they know what their "hot buttons" are.

Listen to Michael Savage. I heard him ONCE on the radio and was disgusted by what I heard. He was spouting off a bunch of fake statistics (like "99% of democrats are atheists" and "all liberals are socialists" and "all liberals/democrats hate and mock religion") but I know there are people who listen to that garbage and believe it. It also affects how they vote.

Answer 6

The problem is that politicians want to get elected. Its not a job to them. Its a career. They can make tons of money and how much they make increases with their power over policy making.

Religious people are by nature gullible. You can convince them of just about anything if you speak to them in their terms(throwing in jesus, hating people that are different etc). The republicans are more in your face about it, but even the democrats dont have the Ba**s to ignore them.

As for the founding fathers, I think Separation of church and state, and religious freedom pretty much sum their feeling on the subject. Ben Franklin was a member of the hellfire club. A society of high intellects that had fun by mocking the church and its moronic beliefs. Also several members belonged to the free masons.

"What has been Christianity’s fruits? Superstition, Bigotry and Persecution". - James Madison

George Washington

Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause. I had hoped that liberal and enlightened thought would have reconciled the Christians so that their [not our?] religious fights would not endanger the peace of Society. Letter to Sir Edward Newenham, June 22,

Thomas Jefferson

[1743-1826] 3rd American president, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat. Deist, avid separationist.

"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." 1787 letter to his nephew

Abraham Lincoln

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."      Joseph Lewis quoting Lincoln in a 1924 speech in New York.

Answer 7

It is an integral part of the majority of the people in the republican party.

Remember the party is the people and the people, on the whole love and honor God.

Answer 8

Nope. It's not a part of it, it's a tool of propaganda. All the true conservatives that haven't been fooled by the neocons have left the Repoblicans a while ago.

They do unconservative and un-Christian things but want to deceive you by repeating "god bless" 1,000 times and let the propaganda work your mind.

Don't be fooled by the phony cons!

Answer 9

It is current day, that's their main line of voters. Without the religious vote, they wouldn't have anything. However, I think one day the religious will see the party for what it is, and separate themselves from their corruption.