President Society

How many and how often do world leaders fabricate their religious beliefs to obtain power?

Saddam, despite being a cruel murderer, was incredibly intelligent as are so many other powerful leaders and statesmen throughout history. In being so savvy and smart to navigate to the top of their respective worlds I just cant believe they could be stupid enough to really believe the fictional world of religion. How many and which ones do you believe fabricated their religious beliefs to obtain power?

Public Comments

1. Obama is doing it and the general uneducated public is buying into it.
2. Pretty much every time they mention God or religion.
3. Don't we all?? I am a sex addict but I tell people I am a Christain as I am..but I still like to look but don't touch..my wife says I am ok if I don't touch..but my willy is dead anyway..sorry?
4. I am sure a lot. Christianity, for example, was "invented" by Constantine in order to control the masses. Isn't government just another kind of control?
5. I would imagine that anyone running for office would have to portray themselves as something their not in many respects. Can you imagine an atheist trying to run for office in the U.S.?! hahaha! i'm sure there were at least a few closet atheist presidents ;)
6. You are correct on Saddam, however, you are incorrect if you implying that Saddam used religion to gain power. Saddam was not at all a religious leader or even claimed that he was a religious person. I think that around the world, instead of a religion, nationalism played an effective role than the religion has in politics. Just look at the European history alone, its all about Nationalism rather than Religion. Empires on the other hand have had lot more involvement with Religion than traditional governments leaders have. I think the last "religion" related ethnic cleansing took place in Bosnia, where the leaders of the country purposely killed Muslims just because they were Muslims.