Should religion stay in the area of spirituality, and not influence politics?

That is the key distinction. All people, including the religious and spiritual, should feel free to express their views and opinions, and may follow their beliefs in their voting -- but those rights end the moment they try legislating them on to everyone else as well. And when churches begin organizing their congregations into political campaigns and/or PACs funding candidates/campaigns their non-profit tax-exemption should be yanked, as they have disqualified themselves under existing tax laws. Few are, because the outcry when the law is enforced is over the top.

It has long been the goal of Evangelical Christians to get one of theirs into the White House so they could make America Non-Secular and kick out all the "infidels". Sound familiar? we just got done fighting a war with the Taliban who think much the same as these people do. This must NEVER be allowed to happen!

The ideal case would be if we could move past what I'd refer to as "true believer" religion in general; that is, people viewing their mythologies as an actual facet of reality rather than as a tool for improving their mental health and building community.

Failing that, it's kinda impossible to truly have a separation of church and state. You can't source morality from religion, use morality to inform your political positions, and then not expect your religion to influence your political positions. It's a flawed concept in itself, and it's probably why theocracy has only decreased in line with a decrease in "true believer" religion.

I agree with many replies as the US is not a theocracy, if all religions can’t be represented then nine should and if a church does get involved in politics then it’s tax exempt status should be revoked. On the plus side, it does reveal the hypocrisy often.

USA is a theocracy. Suck it up. Evangelical Christians run the show. From urban planning to civil rights, most laws are designed to not offend them. Don’t forget the fake Puritanism imposed on political leaders they don’t like. One can send a d!ck pic and be considered absolutely disgusting then forced to resign while another can brag about grabbing women by their pu$$y yet be elected President. Evangelical Christians run the show.

Religious nationalism is dangerous.
People should be allowed religious and spiritual freedom, but it makes zero sense to let that influence laws which impact everyone, which is exactly what has happened in a lot of countries.

I went to a seminar given by Barbara Jordan, a very well known representative of Congress from Texas. Her presentation was on the concept of separation of church and state. This was right after she stopped the confirmation of Bork SCOTUS nominee.
She stated that while there is no “official” religion of the government. There is a body of those who believe in the truth of the Christian religion and will follow their conscience when voting.
The alternative is to “believe” in science which is infamous of providing theories like the “big bang” and evolution which adherents swear to be true.

Which religion? That's the problem, in my opinion. Either all religions get representation, or none. My preference would be for none.

But you did once believe.... What caused you to cease believing?


Well i agree with Anne Lamott on this one.. God loves everyone.. 🤗


People.. ALL PEOPLE!!! have the right to speak up and support what they believe in as being good and true.. Just as you have the right to speak up for and support what ever you think is good and true.. in the end in a democratic system which is how many nations are run the majority support will lead to laws tending to support that majority opinion.. This is so simple.. It's the way of the World.. I am wondering why i even have to say this basic information 101..

Spirituality like politics don't just magically shut off when you enter a building or do a certain job. I think secularism is kind of flawed in that way. I am not a secularist I am a pluralist. You can believe what you want and it will impact your decisions no matter what. But it becomes a problem when you force others to comply with your beliefs. And that doesn't just apply to religious or spiritual people.

politics and religion should be separate . tho it will be hard to do for when you see in god i trust on the dollar bill . and in court you put your hand on the bible to swear to tell the truth the whole truth in the name of god. ya good luck there. as a non believer. even my neighbors get mad at me for not believing and say all you have to do is let him into your heart and you will be saved. the way i see it one day it will fade away and man will believe in science and not god. i dont think that will be in my life time. and as for adam and eve if they had three sons . who did the sons have children with. just asking and that question i do not ask my neighbors. now if it makes a person have hope in believing good for them because every one needs hope in there lives. just dont push there belief onto me and we are fine. best to leave it alone. and not talk about it. oh and good luck with that. mark

Absolutely. Since the U.S. is still not a theocracy, the separation between church and state needs to be maintained.

Church and Politics needs to be kept separate.

I certainly agree about it being self serving of all religions to say that God loves only those who worship as they do….therefore it’s perfectly alright to kill them all, because god will damn them for eternity anyhow, so why waste earth’s resources on the damned.

Very self serving!!!

So who exactly would you deny a right to speak if they have been elected?

You start with all religious and then reduce it to particular christians "You know, the ones spewing "marriage is between Adam and Eve- not Adam and Steve."

As I understand it, they do not even come close to the majority of christians.

It most certainly has no place in politics.

They have a superiority complex.

Impossible to do. As the people believe so the laws reflect.

It should, but it won't.

Its nice having spirituality and religion at the same time and different views in different beliefs in religions ,but if you stick to the label of just religion you go off your game

The problem is, they've had it drilled into their heads that their religion is the One True Religion™, and their vision of God is the One True God™. And so they believe that everybody needs to follow their religion, or we'll all burn in hell forever.

If you believed you had lifesaving information that everybody needed to hear, you would tell them, right? And if they scoffed at that information, you would be afraid for them. So you would double down on pushing your narrative, because you believe lives are at stake.