Reply #5: A person's religion can inspire and inform them

[Az]

But it should never be used as the justification for the action. This is the problem.

I was listening to an NPR show last night where they invited several members of the clergy on to talk about how religion is mixing with politics once again. It was a beautiful comedy of errors.

All seemed to start out in agreement that the founding fathers never meant to keep religion out of politics. It was just to keep the government from choosing an official religion. They then proceded to inform the world that bible based morality needed to be placed back in the seat of power.

Thats when the trouble started. Each of the clergy began disagreeing on interpretations of the scriptures. Different emphasis began arising and the commoradory quickly departed as they kept informing each other that they were focusing on the wrong verses.

They failed to see the very reason why Church and State must be kept seperate. Even if you have an infallible source doctrine the various interpretations of it can fuel conflict for eons.

Religion can never be seperated from the individual. This is not the intent of the Seperation clause. Belief can inspire and inform people. It can be their inspiration. But it cannot be allowed to be the boot stepping on the necks of those that do not agree with it.

You can have all manner of religious zealot in office. As long as they realise that their inspiration has to be translated to reason to be presented before the people. Claims to divine authority are completely inappropriate in the halls of Governance of a free people. Either appeal to your sense of reason or you have perverted the intent of this nation.