Do Christians have to vote?

1
Do Christians have to vote?
2
Why?
YES?
NO?
3
Debate This house believes that Christians
should always vote.
Vs
What might each of these public figures have to
say about voting in the 2015 General Election?
4
Russell Brand I have never voted.
Russell Brand on revolution We no longer have
the luxury of tradition (2013 New
Statesman) Russell Brand I have never voted.
Like most people I am utterly disenchanted by
politics. Like most people I regard politicians
as frauds and liars and the current political
system as nothing more than a bureaucratic means
for furthering the augmentation and advantages of
economic elites. As far as Im concerned there is
nothing to vote for. I feel it is a far more
potent political act to completely renounce the
current paradigm than to participate in even the
most trivial and tokenistic manner, by obediently
X-ing a little box.
 
BBC Newsnight (2013) Russell Brand "It is not
that I am not voting out of apathy. I am not
voting out of absolute indifference and weariness
and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and
deceit of the political class that has been going
on for generations."
Discuss in pairs Do you agree with the arguments
being made by Russell Brand?
5
Facts, figures and other voices

• In the 2010 general election
• 65 of registered voters cast their vote
• The turnout among those aged 18 to 24 was 52.
  Among those over-65, it was 75.

Toni Pearce (journalist at The New
Statesman)Russell Brand is wrong if you dont
vote, you just wont matterIf you dont vote,
you wont have your voice heard. The simple fact
is the electoral roll underpins our democracy and
our lives. Theres no question that we can find
fault with all of the political parties, but we
are the ones who are ultimately responsible. If
you want to see yourself reflected in parliament
elect people who can achieve this. Seriously look
at the candidates in your constituency and work
out who is most closely affiliated to your
values. Dont expect that every policy put
forward will be palatable. You dont enjoy every
single aspect of your work or studies, but you
persevere because overall its aligned with who
you are, or what you intend to do. If its not,
you change it.  
George Arnett Is Russell Brand right? Are we
disenchanted by politics? The majority of
people that could vote at the last election did
and voting is still seen as the most effective
way to make political change so on both those
counts Brand is not with the majority of people.
However, it is clear that there is a sense of
dissatisfaction with politics, government and
politicians generally that comes out in these
figures. The UK coming up as worse in the EU for
youth voting and the low proportion of young
people who view voting as a civic duty show that
there is at least a lack of interest in the
political system among the young.
6
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Official Church teaching states
Submission to legitimate authorities and service
of the common good require citizens to fulfil
their roles in the life of the political
community.
Submission to authority and co-responsibility
for the common good make it morally obligatory to
pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to
defend one's country
It is the duty of citizens to work with civil
authority for building up society in a spirit of
truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom.
Discuss in pairs Do you agree that it is
morally obligatory to vote? Do you have any
other thoughts on these teachings?
7
Debate This house believes that Christians
should always vote.

1. Each group needs to prepare a short speech (2
   minutes) either for or against this statement.
2. Once all the groups have delivered their speeches
   we will have a whole class debate. Listen
   carefully to the points others are making and
   respond to them.
3. At the end of the debate one person will
   summarise the main arguments in favour of the
   statement and another person will summarise the
   main arguments against the statement.
4. We will then have a class vote. You are free to
   vote either way!