Some Americans are having a change of heart about mixing religion and politics. A new survey finds a narrow majority of the public saying that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters and not express their views on day-to-day social and political matters. For a decade, majorities of Americans had voiced support for religious institutions speaking out on such issues.
The new national survey by the Pew Research Center reveals that most of the reconsideration of the desirability of religious involvement in politics has occurred among conservatives. Four years ago, just 30% of conservatives believed that churches and other houses of worship should stay out of politics. Today, 50% of conservatives express this view.
As a result, conservatives’ views on this issue are much more in line with the views of moderates and liberals than was previously the case. Similarly, the sharp divisions between Republicans and Democrats that previously existed on this issue have disappeared.
There are other signs in the new poll about a potential change in the climate of opinion about mixing religion and politics. First, the survey finds a small but significant increase since 2004 in the percentage of respondents saying that they are uncomfortable when they hear politicians talk about how religious they are – from 40% to 46%. Again, the increase in negative sentiment about religion and politics is much more apparent among Republicans than among Democrats.
when all religions can talk about is abortion and homosexuality, this is the inevitable result.
Maybe religious leaders will finally stop their appeals on behalf of the criminal migrants that have invaded our country and we can really crack down on enforcement!
Maybe religious leaders will finally shut up about global warming…something so far removed from their area of understanding, that every time they speak they brandish their ignorance like a weapon!
Maybe religious leaders will finally stop intruding in judicial matters and let scheduled executions of the most heinous, vile, sociopaths proceed, allowing justice be done!
Maybe religious leaders will finally stop blabbing on and on about how Islam is a religion of peace, giving it a veneer of respectability that is at odds with the facts of history and our own experience!
Maybe some religious leaders will finally stop the race baiting that continues to stir up and exacerbate racism in the name of ending racism, and allow the nation to really heal!
Sick and tired, I’m glad religious leaders have obeyed the command of God to protect the immigrant, most of whom are not criminals, and rejected the henotheism of the modern state.
I’m glad religious leaders have defended the work of 99% of most scientists about climate change.
I’m glad religious leaders recognize that executing criminals is more about our need for human sacrifice than divine justice.
I’m glad that religious leaders have said that scapegoating Islam just distracts from real issues in our own country.
I’m glad religious leaders continue to challenge people to recognize that racism still exists, and can’t be avoided.
But I’m also glad that most mainline churches haven’t been coopted by the Democratic party the way right-wing churches have.
… by the Republicans.