Is it possible to keep religion out of American politics? How?

Answer 1

Religion is the opiate of the people..........
Superstition and smoke screens subvert real discussions on real issues effecting the majority of americans.
When zealots can use non-issues like gay marriages in past elections, to distract a short attention span society, instead of dealing with an economy in deep trouble, pre-emptive war, the vanishing middle class, poverty, health care costs, etc.- its no surprise we wound up in this mess. Americans are sheep and need superstition to guide them. Even intellectual politicians know its political suicide to admit they are not christians. .........

Answer 2

As long as there's freedom of speech political candidates will either mention their religion or not and interest groups will either question them about their religion or not. The best answer that an aspiring politician can give is that he or she has not yet been blessed with that insight and then change the subject. My sense of this issue is that churches are private clubs that have rules of conduct that their memebers are obliged to obey. The idea that a private club should have some special say in politics based on the rules of their club is as silly as the Elks or the Moose badgering a candidate about their beliefs about Elkdom or Moosedom! If a candidate 'believes' in the Constitution and good mannners, that's enough for me!

Answer 3

It means that religion shouldn't bleed into politics. In otherwords, decisions that have to be made by presidents and other political leaders shouldn't be based on a religious belief, or rather, because "god told them so". The fact that America allows freedom to practice religion (any religion as long as it doesn't break the law) is saying much. "Look, you can practice your religion, you can have opinions, you can vote, but don't let your religious beliefs bleed over into politics". Why? Because our forefathers were trying to get away from this. That is why separation of church and state is a good thing, and why it has worked. Look at history. Nothing good comes of religion ruling government. It's brought murder, war, and chaos.

Answer 4

There is nothing that keeps religion out of politics. The Constitution only prevents it from becoming law.

Answer 5

Nobody wants to keep religion out of politics. They want to keep politics out of religion (e.g. the Government doesn't have the right to dictate from a pulpit, direct the treasury monies to religous organizations, etc...this goes back to Jefferson who argued every man has a right to decide which preacher or pastor he will support with his purse and so on).

Answer 6

Out of politics no. People are entitled to advocate what they want.
Out of government, yes. Just endorse the supreme law of the land. It's called the constitution, and anticipating the ignorant and uneducated, under our system of law the constitution is what the Supreme Court says it is...all of it's rulings, right from it very first ruling to this morning that it has by its own actions not overturned.

Answer 7

No, our nation was founded by religious people. Many people base their political views on the teachings of their religion. It is impossible to keep religion out of politics.

Answer 8

Of course it is impossible to keep religion and politics separate. Religion guides people and gives them certain morals and standards.

Answer 9

See US Constitution

Answer 10

No, a person's religion guides their morality and decisions.

zardoz--Religion in politics has been an issue since we gained independence.