Ya See What Happens When You Push Religion ?

I completely disagree. The only reason the extreme fundamentalists have gotten this far is because reasonable people of faith have wrung their hands and said they don't want to get them dirty by "politicizing" religion. I was at the We Believe Ohio- Cleveland event at the Cleveland Play House and found it inspiring, energizing and essential. One thing the "relgious left" has been criticized for correctly- is that in its fear of seem "political" it has allowed the religious right to completely define what faith values are. The aim of We Believe Ohio is to show that there is a completely different definition of that but NOT — unlike the religious right - to get in bed with politicians who agree to promote your particular religious agenda to the point where you excuse everything they do.

I see a profound difference between feeling that your faith commands you to try to persuade people, including politicians, of the rightness of certain viewpoint, such as the need for improving access to healthcare or guaranteeing that our children have a future by providing them with as much education as they have the brains and work ethic to avail themselves of, and trying to elect people who will impose your viewpoints on others. Often, those on the right point out that it was religious groups that opposed slavery or drove the civil rights movement so what's the difference between that and their attempts to pass Defense of Marriage amendments or outlaw abortion? The difference is limiting the rights of others through imposition rather than in trying to change peoples' minds about injustice.

Bono was criticized for meeting with President Bush to try to persuade him that relieving third-world debt was the right thing to do. He was attacked for "meeting with the enemy," but he pointed out that his goal was to try to convince people in positions to act that this was something that needed to be done, and it had nothing to do with endorsing that person or the rest of their beliefs. People like the Rev. Russell Johnson and Rod Parsley, to say nothing of the Falwells and Dobsons, can justify ANYTHING, not matter how unscriptural, if you are down with their agenda.

I think We Believe Ohio is an absolutely essential pushback and we need to give up thinking there is any "danger" in simply speaking up for what we believe is right. I mean, they made it totally clear this organization is not about creating any roster of "approved" candidates as per the Ohio Restoration Project. Have we really become that cowed and intimidated that this can look like a bad thing on any level?

I don't believe religion and politics should mix.  My religion to me is a personal decision.  Nor do I think that a pastor, rabbi, priest, pope, shaman whatever title they have in a religion should be in a position where they try to influence voters. It puts people of faith at possible odds with the person that is at the most basic description a part of their spirituality.  I'm a Roman Catholic, I doubt the Pope would feel at times I was a good one because I don't always agree with him yet I do know those who take the words of those who "represent" God very seriously.  Using a persons relationship with God or a religion for political purposes to me goes against the very foundation of this country.  No matter who is doing it, to me it's wrong.  Further, I can't help but feeling this has happened because the Democrats have allowed this whole morality question to be a political issue when it shouldn't be.  In response to the attempt at a public impression that the Democrats are immoral and godless, we trot out candidates who make statements on their faith, we get religions/churches involved to "counter" what the religious right is doing. 

To me this became clearly apparent during the last Presidential campaign.  I think the question should be why do we keep letting the religious right place us in a position were we feel it necessary to defend our morals when religion really has nothing to do with the most basic idea of government which is set up by our Constitution.  It shouldn't matter if a person believes in God or not, what should matter is what is he or she going to do as an elected official to serve the best interests of all of his/her constituents.  If they pray or not the only person that should really matter to is them.

Religion in "politics" and religion in government seem to me to be 2 different things~ I don't see what's wrong with talking about what shapes a person's world view from a spiritual perspective, I'd like to know who inspires a candidate or what ideas underlie a person's overall policy positions. 

Religion in Government is an entirely different thing.  I t goes to the role of government in our society.  What part is our Government- For, By and Of the People - to play in our lives?  "We the People...in order to create a more perfect union...", Isn't the role of the government, in our system, ideally, to serve the Public Good? 

I mean, Life is complicated enough, and painful enough; and without support of our fellow citizens, and neighbors, in the form of a governing system that can help smooth the sharper edges off Life, we might as well run around the Savannas scavaging for food and hiding from Lions.

Our Government doesn't need to, and ours cannot legally, establish a preferred religion, though many might want it.  Certainly the "religious" issues are used by demagogues to divide and create a culture of suspician.  What an Anti-American notion that is!

Democrats, and anyone with a spiritual underpinning to thier public policy views, should never shrink from talking about what or who inspires them.  I think it's important when a person is trying to inspire others to vote for them and to support thier work!  And to trust thier intentions as well.  We need to foster a culture of trust and openess, where our citizens don't fear eachother~