# does god influence elections? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267 "2017-04-11T21:01:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/21 "2017-04-11T23:59:32Z")
I can’t blame Trump on God. Stupid people did that on their own. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/22 "2017-04-12T00:08:50Z")
A non-existent god casts a non-existent ballot in each election. In this past election, my actual vote counted just about as much. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/23 "2017-04-12T00:40:23Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I can’t blame Trump on God. Stupid people did that on their own. Why did god make stupid people? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/24 "2017-04-12T00:47:48Z")
If God had the power and the desire to influence the result of an election, why would he let it go that far? Instead, he would go back in time and change things so Donald Trump (or Hillary Clinton, if you like) found their calling as a sideshow mime, and never bother getting into politics in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/25 "2017-04-12T01:11:54Z")
From what I understand, god backed Jimmy Carter’s reelection bid. Imagine how badly Carter woulda lost without god’s help. ETA::: Cite: personal communication. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/26 "2017-04-12T06:44:13Z")
Actually, I misread the thread title. Yes, god influences erections. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/27 "2017-04-12T07:08:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > From what I understand, god backed Jimmy Carter’s reelection bid. Imagine how badly Carter woulda lost without god’s help. > > ETA::: Cite: personal communication. Communication with whom? God or Carter? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/28 "2017-04-12T08:10:32Z")
He’s too busy fixing the sports matches. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/29 "2017-04-12T10:47:25Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > He’s too busy fixing the sports matches. Also music awards, going by the typical acceptance speech. Apparently he had an inordinate fondness of The Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/30 "2017-04-12T11:04:59Z")
> [@escaped](#): > > I like opinions on this What do you like about them? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/31 "2017-04-12T11:15:36Z")
God was created by man, in part for the purposes of influencing public policy, for which elections ultimately became a mechanism. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/32 "2017-04-12T11:26:02Z")
Romans 13: > [@](#): > > 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. > > 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. It also goes on to say everyone should pay their taxes. Of course, God (assuming the existence of the Biblical deity) plays the _long_ game, so His purpose in instituting certain governing authorities remains rather opaque. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/33 "2017-04-12T11:28:57Z")
Yes ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/34 "2017-04-12T13:57:14Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Actually, I misread the thread title. Yes, god influences erections. True, I’ve noticed that shortly after yelling “OH GOD!,” my erection usually subsides. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/35 "2017-04-12T14:01:44Z")
Biblically God appoints every leader. Ultimately for the grand purpose, showing how fucked up and inept humans are. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/36 "2017-04-12T14:02:46Z")
> [@escaped](#): > > I like opinions on this Look at that… there _are_ stupid questions after all. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/37 "2017-04-12T14:25:11Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Also music awards, going by the typical acceptance speech. Apparently he had an inordinate fondness of The Beatles. I see what you did there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/38 "2017-04-16T01:59:35Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Look at that… there _are_ stupid questions after all. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/39 "2017-04-16T02:21:32Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > If God had the power and the desire to influence the result of an election, why would he let it go that far? Instead, he would go back in time and change things so Donald Trump (or Hillary Clinton, if you like) found their calling as a sideshow mime, and never bother getting into politics in the first place. It’s not that simple. The Lord works in mysterious ways. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267/40 "2017-04-16T14:13:06Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > It’s not that simple. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Which will be revealed to you if you write a big enough check on Sunday, apparently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-influence-elections/784267.md?page=3)