Keep Religion Out of it!

Religion and politics: Two extremely different topics yet unfortunately related. The subject of politics and religion has always set me off since my belief is to keep religion out of politics completely which clearly has not been the case for many, many decades. When this country was founded, the constitution separated church and state for a reason. Now, I feel as though there are always religious issues interfering with politics.

Let’s start at the beginning. Separation between church and state has been around since the beginning of civilization. Ancient China, the Roman Empire, Islamic government and medieval Europe were just a few ancient civilizations that believed in this separation. Thomas Jefferson was the first president of the United States to support separation between church and state. Jefferson was a religious man himself, but argued that religion was very personal and should be kept to ourselves. Therefore, it was imperative to leave religion out of government.
Since then, the first amendment has been in force. I, much like President Jefferson, believe that religion is a very personal belief that should be completed eliminated from politics.

Issues involving religion and education are perennial topics of public debate. Members of various faith traditions often find themselves on opposite sides of conversations related to school prayer, the teaching of evolution and creationism, vouchers, the use of school space by religious groups, the recitation of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and the question of how to teach about religion. While some argue that religion has an important role to play in public education, others maintain that a strict wall of separation is needed when it comes to religion and public schools.

The problem of religion and politics defines another set of issues. Church and state deals with the relationship of institutions that are independent of each other. Religion and politics has to do with two spheres of activities in the life of the same persons. Citizens who belong to religious groups are also members of the secular society, and this dual association generates complications. Religious beliefs have moral and social implications, and it is appropriate for people of faith to express these through their activities as citizens in the political order. The fact that ethical convictions are rooted in religious faith does not disqualify them from the political realm.

Now, I realize that sometimes this is hard given that some people think certain ways about issues based on their religious beliefs which if fine. But is it really necessary to state your religious opinions when talking about politics? Not only does this create conflict, but it also is one of the reasons why our country has become so divided. Let me reiterate, religion is a personal belief and it should remain that way! There is a reason that we have freedom of religion.