Do others also think Hillary is not really a religious person?

[quinnox]

Because I don't think she is one. I think she is just being politically savvy, because as others said, you have to proclaim a devotion to religion to get elected in this country. Sad, but true. So, yea, I'm suggesting Hillary is not being completely honest about her religious belief. But I don't think that is unusual, or even should be condemned. It is just playing politics and being realistic about what is standard procedure in the political game.

[Iggo]

1. I have my doubts.

She's pandering to...uh...well, she's pandering.

[leftstreet]

2. If she's not running on economic issues, she has no choice

Apparently the Neo-FDR ship sailed with Obama

The only thing Hillary has is massive brand recognition. But maybe her people are already worried and have decided to start the pandering early

Who knows

[quinnox]

3. Yea. I think with this religious stuff lately, and her book, shows she really might run in 2016

Nothing for sure, but it gives me a strong indication.

[former9thward]

4. People are projecting their views onto Hillary.

Just as they did with Obama in 2008.

[joeybee12]

5. Well, someone posted to a nation article that some here are using to bash her about the Family...

But even that admits she has always been very religious, and even was back in little Rock...personally, I think this whole convrestion/conjecture is unseemly...until she starts quoting the bible to bash gays, unmarried mothers, or deny global warming, it really is a non-issue.

[sabrina 1]

6. Why talk about religion at all? It has zero to do with politics as far as I am concerned. Most

people have a deep faith I have found, rarely TALK about it, the ACT it out, by doing charitable work, by opposing WARS that devastate nations, by feeding the hungry, by promoting PEACE. I've never seen a person who actually is deeply religious boast about 'proxy wars' eg.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe war IS Religious.

[el_bryanto]

7. I find myself torn on this question

Because I think that Hillary Clinton has many good points, but has shown herself again and again as not necessarily living up to her rhetoric. She is basically a centrist wall-street candidate, and it's entirely possible that she's saying what she needs to to get what she wants.

On the other hand, I don't agree with the supposition that as an intelligent person, of course she doesn't really believe in religion. Many intelligent and good people are faithful.

The truth is there's no way to know - and since I am unlikely to support her in the primary anyway it doesn't really matter to me.

Bryant

[Bluenorthwest]

8. She speaks for herself.

"Marriage has got historic, religious and moral content that goes back to the beginning of time and I think a marriage is as a marriage has always been, between a man and a woman."
Hillary, 2000

She held that religiously based conviction publically until March of 2013. It is odd because she says she reads the Bible, which is full of marriages between a man and large numbers of women, very young girls, the wife's maid, you name it. Yet she claims to think marriage as always been one man and one woman as if she had not read the Bible at all.

[madamesilverspurs]

9. Not my call.

If I decide otherwise I'll be sure to let the whole world know. Because my opinion about something that is none of my business is just so damned important, doncha know.

[Hekate]

10. She's been a Methodist her whole life. Her public career has been pretty consistent...

...with the mainstream Methodist call for social justice action in the world. What would convince you? She's not and never has been a Bible-thumper, but that wouldn't convince the anti-Hillary folks here anyway. Neither has she ever hidden the fact that she has a religious faith.

So what would it take to convince you?

[quinnox]

11. I'm not looking to be convinced, I didn't say it was either a good or bad thing

I'm saying I'm neutral, in regard to it being good or bad, as to whether she has true and deep religious faith or not.

I just don't think she does.

[Hekate]

12. No, you just think she's dishonest, and nothing will convince you otherwise

Interesting.

[quinnox]

13. In terms of being deeply religious, sure. But I think most politicians are dishonest, it isn't just

Hillary, when it comes to this area. Do you really think most politicians are honest about stuff like this? Because I don't. Politicians lie about lots of things. IMHO

[MindPilot]

14. But if we accppt that she is "just playing politics"...

at what point does the pandering and pretending to be something she's not become dishonesty and duplicity?

What if any is the difference between Hillary pretending to be religious (assuming she is pretending as you assert) and W pretending to be a cowboy, or Romney pretending to be a regular workin' guy?

This seems like it's lowering the bar once again; we are so desperate for decent representation that we'll take anything they serve up as long as it has some Democratic gravitas.

[baldguy]

15. "I grew up in the Methodist Church and taught Sunday school. ..."

"One of my favorite passages of scripture is: 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' Matthew 25:40. The passage teaches about God in each of us, that we are bound to each other and called to act. Not to sit, not to wait, but to act—all of us together." - Elizabeth Warren, DNC National Convention, September 5, 2012

[ManiacJoe]

16. I may have missed it, ...

but are there any claims that she actually is a "religious person"?

Just going to church every Sunday, while admirable, would certainly not meet the bar for such a claim.

[moriah]

17. Do others not really give two shits or a fuck whether she is or not?

Seriously, that's about how I feel on the subject. I have my own faith. I'm Pagan, and studied Wicca extensively -- I'm quite fond of my religion, but I'm also aware it was crafted and brought to prominence by a dirty old man who wanted to see a bunch of naked women sourged under the moonlight and get to have ritual sex with them. It was one of those women, Doreen Valiente, who turned it into a religion worth practicing.

If I know my beliefs cannot be proven rationally, but they work for me, who the fuck am I to judge anyone else's, so long as they harm none?

[quinnox]

21. I liked how you put that

about the origins of your religion...

[moriah]

23. At least I don't kid myself ;)

Still, it works for me. Or, rather, I've made it into something that works for me.

"Nine words the Eclectic Rede attest: Take what works, fix what's broke, forget the rest!"

[msanthrope]

18. Having worked for her, I will tell you that her faith has informed her pro-LGBT stance for

decades.

[Vattel]

19. She is not a Christian.

She lies about it for the obvious political reasons. Same for Obama and all his "personal relationship" with Jesus BS. Just politically expedient lies.

[xfundy]

24. Oh.

So all the republicans claiming christianity really are christian, not claiming to be for political expedience? As they ignore the teachings of Jesus and do the opposite?

[Puzzledtraveller]

30. I know right.

What mental gymnastics does ones brain have to do to believe without any doubt that prominent democrats like HRC and President Obama are not Christians because they just possible can't be.

[Arugula Latte]

34. I don't say for sure that politicians such as Obama are secret non-believers, but

I have a hunch that a shitload of politicians who claim to believe in the divinity of Christ and all that are just giving lip service to the "Gawd 'n' Jebus 'n' Amurika" political atmosphere in this country. If I were to find out that Obama is secretly an atheist or agnostic I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[Vattel]

39. Actually I am not sure either. Just an educated guess.

[TexasProgresive]

20. I just don't give a shit about Ms. Clinton's spiritual beliefs.

If she said it to get votes is that going to counter those who won't vote for her because she said the Bible is most influential in her life?

Personally I don't think the time is right for either Clinton or Warren to run for the presidency. I think we need a candidate that will not be a lightening rod like Bill Clinton and Barak Obama. Both of these ladies will be the GOPs to die for candidates and if either should win would be hamstrung in Congress as has been Obama.

[scarletwoman]

22. I totally don't give a shit.

There is so much else I don't like about her, the obligatory pandering to religion hardly raises a blip.

[xfundy]

25. I don't care whether she is or not.

It's immaterial to her policies.

[hrmjustin]

26. I take her at her word and think she is religious.

[Prophet 451]

27. I honestly don't know

Since I don't know her, I have no way of knowing if her faith is genuine or just a politically motivated cover. Actually, knowing how long Hillary has been planning a presidential run, I probably wouldn't know even if I did know her.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. I look at her proclamation of faith about the same way I look at flag lapel pins. Advertising.

[whatchamacallit]

29. So she's either religious or a liar...

Great.

[Puzzledtraveller]

32. Yeah, all of this stuff says more about the people losing their minds over this than anything

Hillary may think or feel.

[cantbeserious]

31. Seriously Doubt Her Piety

eom

[Beacool]

33. Hillary has always been religious.

She's a devout Methodist.

If anyone here has a problem with Christianity, well, too damn bad for them.

[LittleBlue]

35. I don't think she is. She's pandering to religious voters

Most of whom won't vote for her in a million years.

Fake fake fake

[Aerows]

37. I used to love her

until I realized how artificial Clinton is.

I'd love to pull the lever for a dem.

It is a sad day when our choices are bad and worst.

[Aerows]

36. Maybe

maybe not

I don't dislike her as a person, but her goals and going to war for no solid reason? I hold that against her, even though I will vote for her as a last resort.

[tularetom]

38. The people she listens to have some odd ideas about Americans outside the beltway

And they have somehow convinced her that it is politically wise to come off as some kind of fundamentalist holy roller.

Unfortunately, she just isn't very convincing. Her speeches sound contrived. No, I doubt that she is the kind of religious person she wants the yahoos out in the "heartland" to think she is.

And it disturbs me that she is cynical enough to believe these tactics will be successful.