When I decide to cast my vote, I will be swayed by demonstrations of critical thinking ability, rather than pronouncements of faith. Religion is fine when it informs and encourages decent human behavior, but it is too easily abused and exploited when merged with politics.

Bigotry and hatred? [false description of reality mercifully deleted]

Yes. That’s despite what I hear from my radical friend who hears too much of that from Colorado’s Front Range. You stand corrected, again. Not that you’re in any hurry to learn; you have too many Religious Right (and other) monsters under your bed and in your closet.

(Note it is the Left, usually not the Religious Left, who exhibits bigotry and hatred toward the Religious Right in this country.)

Bigotry and hatred? How about resentment of their primary reason for existence, which is to have the government pass laws that force Christians and non-Christians who don’t necessarily agree with their beliefs to live their lives as though they do? This is a very different thing from bigotry. It’s self defense against a group that thinks that so long as they don’t force people to go to their church anything else goes when it comes to controlling people’s personal lives.

Legal hurdles aside, the same role it plays in society, or in the economy.

There may be extreme circumstances, like that which existed in Germany, where one party is so evil, so demonic that the Church must speak out. Specific issues sometimes are so clearly addressed in the Bible that it’s wrong for the Church not to address them. But such circumstances and issues are, to my mind, rare.

Our allegiance as Christians, I believe, must be to Christ and not to isms.

Thanks for your interesting comments.

Mark Daniels