Just my opinion, but:
A politician may profess religious verities as part of his humanity, which will be manifested through his entire life’s history — both public and private. On the basis of his humanity (possibly instilled by religion) as it has affected that politician’s past actions, voters can judge his fitness (in their opinion) for public office.
Where religion makes itself unwelcome in public office, is when religious dogma is used as argument in debating secular life, or when one set of religious values is militantly employed to override another religion’s values.
Only in a country where everyone shares the same religion, is equally fervent in following its rules, and posses no diverging opinions in the proper way of following that religion, could religion mix comfortably with politics. That would be possible because, only in such a condition, there would be no need for politics, as everyone would be following the same path, and require no regulation by the state.
Fortunately (to my way of thinking) this world is far more diverse than that.
In order not to have one person’s beliefs impinge upon another person’s differing beliefs, all must agree to try to make their secular decisions based upon observable fact, measurable truth, and logical discussion.
Faith-based beliefs must be left aside, for action only amongst members of their church, where all agree.
Anything less destroys a democracy and leads to elitism, oligarchy, or theocracy.
A politician may profess religious verities as part of his humanity, which will be manifested through his entire life’s history — both public and private. On the basis of his humanity (possibly instilled by religion) as it has affected that politician’s past actions, voters can judge his fitness (in their opinion) for public office.
Where religion makes itself unwelcome in public office, is when religious dogma is used as argument in debating secular life, or when one set of religious values is militantly employed to override another religion’s values.
Only in a country where everyone shares the same religion, is equally fervent in following its rules, and posses no diverging opinions in the proper way of following that religion, could religion mix comfortably with politics. That would be possible because, only in such a condition, there would be no need for politics, as everyone would be following the same path, and require no regulation by the state.
Fortunately (to my way of thinking) this world is far more diverse than that.
In order not to have one person’s beliefs impinge upon another person’s differing beliefs, all must agree to try to make their secular decisions based upon observable fact, measurable truth, and logical discussion.
Faith-based beliefs must be left aside, for action only amongst members of their church, where all agree.
Anything less destroys a democracy and leads to elitism, oligarchy, or theocracy.
