Why politics doesn't exisit

            As it often happens when I am with a group of people we end up talking about religion. One time an atheist in the group spoke up and said that he wished we would talk about something else. He didn’t believe in god, and religion was all about money and manipulating people. Why couldn't we talk about something else like politics. I quickly pointed out that if he didn’t like subjects that were all about money and manipulating people we certainly couldn’t talk about politics either. He smiled and we changed the subject.

            I got to thinking about this conversation again when I read an article about a group of atheists, agnostics and free thinkers who felt like they were being excluded from participating in politics. It struck me, why should atheists, agnostics and free thinkers want anything to do with politics? I noticed that almost every reason people give for disbelieving in god and religion could also be said of politics too.

            If religion is true how come there are so many religions that contradict each other? If politics is true how come there are many different views on how a government should be run?  If you were born in a different country you might have a different religion. Of course if you were born in a different country you might have a different political persuasion as well. People believe in religion because that is how they were raised.  That is probably how most people get their political views too. If politics is good, why is there so much suffering in the world? Religion may be responsible for some suffering. But, Politics? No, never. Religion manipulates and extorts money from the poor and uneducated. Granted this does happen, but I have known far more poor pastors than poor politicians. Churches many be full of hypocrites but politicians don't have the reputation for doing what they say they will. There is no scientific evidence for a god or religion. Of course there really is no scientific evidence to back any given political party either.   

            I am not trying to say that politics is a religion. I am simply saying that if I take the reasons people give for disbelieving religion, I don’t see how I can believe in politics either. Of course atheists, agnostics and free thinkers would be quick to point out that religion is the thing that poisons politics.  That if we could purge all religion from politics then everything would be better. But, would that really solve the problem? Allow me a moment of sarcasm here. If people just stopped praying during election campaigns then, we could get rid of deficit spending, eliminate corruption, and ensure everyone has health care.

If the arguments used against religion are the arguments by which we determine truth, then politics isn’t true.  If some one is an atheist I don’t see any reason they shouldn't be apolitical. They say there is no god to hear our prayers and I am not sure there are any politicians to hear them either.