Do you think that Americans are mixing politics with religion?

Question

I thought that state and religion were suppost to be kept seperate.

Answer 1

They are mixing politics with religion , s*x , and race ..nothing is separate in reality .

Answer 2

You are so right; however, the whole state and religion thing was taken completely out of context from a law written years after the constitution.  Separation of church and state is nowhere in our constitution!

I find it extremely discriminatory that so many Americans view all Muslims as terrorists.  Christians have started more wars and conflicts than any other religion in history!!!

Answer 3

an example being..................?

the answers below are proof at how vague this question is. some people just went off on whichever tangent they liked at the moment.

there are 300 million of us, and twice that many political, legal, economic, cultural, constitutional, military and diplomatic debates/issues which affect all of us (where religion may or may not play a role).

to answer this question in the negative or affirmative would require enough space to fill three books.

you may as well ask 'are Americans mixing vodka with red bull?'

Answer 4

If you read the constitution it says yes it is to be separated but also it has IN GOD WE TRUST.  This is a religious type with government.  Also the congress had (not sure if they still do) a reverend to pray before each session starts.  

  Regardless how you try to separate them you still have the christian religion influencing the laws of the land.  Example marriage to a woman or man.  Not multiple spouses.  Thou shall not kill, etc.  So you can see why it is hard to keep religion out of politics.

Answer 5

Somewhat,But if thats the case a woman have no right at the head of the white house table,And I am a Woman.okay

Answer 6

Religion is definitely not part of politics in this country. Who in particular are you thinking of when you ask this question? As a nation, we are so far from the structure and divinity of religion (a good thing and a bad thing) that we do not know where we are headed! The socialist countries (most of Europe) are completely without religion, and totally into providing for the poor, that this is setting the standard. Does religion dictate how to treat the underpriveliged? I think if we focus less on religion and more on human rights (middle east) then we could accomplish a lot more.

Answer 7

The phrase "Seperation of Church and State" is not part of the Constitution or the law. It may have been part of a judicial decision at some point, but I don't know which one.

It's origin came from correspondence letters written by Thomas Jefferson in which he said this:

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state."

Thus, Jefferson's Seperation of Church and State is his interpretation of the 1st amendment "Congress shall make no law especting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" It is technically only his opinion of the intent of the law, although considering his historical significance, not an opinion to be taken lightly.

I don't know if the Supreme Court has ever held that absolute seperation of church and state in every imaginable way is the only interpretation of the 1st amendment. It has decided that to avoid unconstitutionality, a law must have "a secular legislative purpose," it must have principal effects which neither advance nor inhibit religion, and it must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion."

If the SC does hold with Jefferson's wall of seperation, the government has failed to carry out that decision. Federally approved media like the American currency and the Pledge of Allegiance still bear references to God (references that were only inserted in the 1950s to show how America was superior to godless commies).

As far as politically speaking (outside the purview of the govt., in other words) Americans have long mixed politics with religion. Opposition to the Kennedy campaign claimed electing a Catholic president would make Rome superior to Washington.

Many voters won't vote for someone who doesn't share their religion, and candidates are often expected to show off their religious devotion as proof of their strength of character.

What amazes me most, living in Europe at the moment, is that despite the fact that powerful religious based political parties exist all over this continent, politics here is far, far less religious than in America.

Answer 8

For a lot of people, their political opinions are formed from their religion. There is no law that says you cannot form opinions based on your religion. It just doesn't make sense.

Answer 9

No the constitution only states that the Govt not impose a specific religion on the people

First Amendment: addresses the rights of freedom of religion (prohibiting Congressional establishment of a religion over another religion through Law and protecting the right to free exercise of religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition.

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

Answer 10

Yep.

As well as politics and emotion.

Which is basically why we're going downhill.

wildestfan2000 - That is actually NOT in the constitution. It is not written anywhere there. That was not stated until a court case many years later. It is not officially a part of our country, though many wrongly assume that it is. Back when America was formed, religion was everything. Few of our founders were actually Christians. Most were Atheists. The only chance they had at gaining respect from the people or larger countries is by hiding behind the mask of Christianity - which is the same reason 'God' is mentioned in the Constitution. Luckily, though, they never mentioned which god... So it's not really too biased. The only people who lose out in this case are Atheists and Agnostics, and other religions without gods.

Answer 11

In a democracy it is unavoidable. America has a history of religion & politics dating back to the Pilgrims.  It is even in our laws. Same s*x marriage is a good example. There are religious beliefs against it & California's Supreme Court decision to alllow it was based on same s*x couples parenting skills equal to those of hetero sexuals, therefore they should have the right to marry.  I thought a better reason is the legislation banning g*y marriage being rooted in religious beliefs, as unconstitutional.