Bloc Voting by Religious Denominations,Good or Bad?
By kenites
@kenites (337)
Philippines
May 5, 2010 9:20pm CST
This election time candidates are trying their best to get the endorsement of religious leaders especially those denomination that implements bloc voting. Do you think this is good for their members being dictated who will they vote? For me I think it kills the essence of democracy, voters should and must have a free will to choose the candidates they think fits the position.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
6 May 10
Well for me, it is supposed to be separation of the church and the government. But I think we have to respect their decision on that matter because it is a matter of faith and their belief that their vote matters what their church leaders dictate.
I have no problem with that if they are free to follow it and they think the conscience is what their leader approves or not. That is their belief and we just have to respect that point.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
6 May 10
If you are referring to INC leadership. I think they are very close religion and their members are trained to think what their leaders think. I do not think that they would consider it a sin if they would vote for other candidates than what their leaders would support. I am not an INC member but I have full respect if they would follow their leader or not.
@kenites (337)
• Philippines
6 May 10
I'm referring to all denomination that practices bloc voting. If we're talking of religion, yah I think that would be the case that the member should think what the leaders think. That is why they are member of the same religion :)
But politically speaking, the case is different. Even the bible teaches free will..
Let their members think and analyze who's the best candidate.
I think it's insulting to your intellect that other people is making an important decision for you.
@kharlav (1669)
• Philippines
6 May 10
Hmmm.. I think leaders of some religious denominations may claim that all their denomination will vote for this person but not all members have the same belief as they have. For example, INC may say that they'll vote for Villar, but they are only speaking for the INC in their place, not all the INC in the whole country. Except if the whole members of the INC, all over the country, will meet up and decide on whom to vote. IN the end, leaders could not push their members on whom they like because we have the freedom to choose. If God gave us this freedom, why can't they? who just claims to be servants of GOd?..
@kharlav (1669)
• Philippines
6 May 10
yes, you are right. Guiding is okay but imposing is so wrong. They can tell their member who they think the best candidate is and why they think so than just push them to vote for them, in this way, members would be able to think carefully, analyze and still have the freedom.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
6 May 10
Good because the candidate will win or increase the odds of winning, Bad because it's too influencil that it can be misleading in terms of qualifications..
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
6 May 10
There is strength in numbers and some religious sects become powerful because of this. But you're right, the right to vote should be respected and should not dictated upon. It's the very essence of democracy. Having a bloc vote means you assert power over the candidates and in return the candidates feel in debt to them. I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine but it sounds more like corruption to me.
@juancarloboss (137)
• Philippines
6 May 10
Ya, you're right. It kills the democracy, what if the other member doesn't like the endorsed candidate and he/she has bet for that position? So the member doesn't choose wisely.
