The introduction of religious passion into politics is the end of honest politics....

[Soph0571]

......and the introduction of politics into religion is the prostitution of true religion”

Lord Hailsham 1872-1950

Just a great quote I saw today.

[Tobin S.]

1. I wonder what Hailsham would have to say about the Citizens United scotus decision.

And I wonder what Hailsham would have had to say about MLK.

[MineralMan]

2. Politics and religion are like oil and vinegar.

You can shake them up together to form an emulsion, but they still don't mix. Great for salad dressing; not so good for governments, I think.

[Pope George Ringo II]

3. It worked out okay for the Republicans for a while.

It must be admitted that their anti-slavery origins have a strong religious element and they were on solid moral ground at the beginning. Then again, the confluence of Republicanism and religion has been the road to hell for a while now.

[Igel]

4. Religion gets mixed up at times.

Usually when religion pushes a value at odds with the government. Sometimes it wins, sometimes it loses.

Abolition was largely religious in nature. In fact, there were religious overtones to the entire American independence initiative; not only religious, to be sure, but they were present.

Prohibition was a religious movement.

So was the Civil Rights movement.

Aspects of the anti-war movement were religious.

But in every case, the winning side had both morality and majority opinion on its side. Because for most, the majority defines "true morality", as long as they're in the majority.

[Pope George Ringo II]

5. Every so often, religion gets something right.

Then there are the rest of the times...

[trotsky]

6. "gets mixed up at times" - LMAO

"Abolition was largely religious in nature" - as were the forces and institution that it fought against. Selective history isn't history, Igel.

"In fact, there were religious overtones to the entire American independence initiative; not only religious, to be sure, but they were present." - Except that the "initiative" was to form an entirely secular state, the roots of which grew out of Enlightenment thinking. "Not only religious" makes it sound like those things were simple add-ons to your wonderful religion establishing this country.

"So was the Civil Rights movement" - again, you are ignoring what ALSO insipired and supported its opposition. Not to mention the numerous freethinkers in the fight for equal rights.

Careful - don't sprain your shoulder patting yourself on your back for your religion.