[Taz's Master]

Moneyguy, if what you wrote is the working definition of religion for this discussion, then it would indeed be very easy to separate religion and politics. I suppose I was under the impression that religion was based on faith. If you are arguing that voters should vote what they believe rather than mindlessly translating edicts handed down from pulpits into electorate mandates, I agree. But I have found that proponents of religions actually follow the religion because of their faith.

Rodeo, I will emphatically agree that government using religion for political power, or religion using political power to gain governmental influence is wrong. But it is very important that voters vote their beliefs, be they religious or secular, and to say that one set of beliefs is more legitimate in the political process than the other is zealotry.

I also think you'll find that like all political issues, the religious/political issues are at their heart about money. If the passion over hot topics like abortion didn't translate into $, sensible legislation would quickly be enacted. There's money to be made from people who care. If you can be convinced that the religious will disallow you to express what you believe or live like you want, and the religious can be convinced you intend to do the same to them, well that can be a profitable situation for someone in politics, or (and here's the problem for true believers) a religious leader.