what is the role of religion in politics?

I think every person in any country that dream of a progressive nation of liberated people in the future need to look beyond just religion doctrine to elect political party and politician into ruling governing elites. There are more to govern a nation's affair than just the religious value stated in every holy book of religion. Unless the general population want to go the direction of an establishment of a theocratic state instead of a truly free and democratic state in their nation building journey, then voting on any political candidate and political party base solely on religion affiliation is the way to go, in this way, the rights of every citizen would not be guaranteed in the future; secular rule and constitutional law will have to give way for religious doctrine in every day governance of their nation. Religion has limited role to play in politic whenever it is not in the interest of extremism and radicalism.

In America our founding fathers recognized that there was a danger in having a state sponsored religion. They wrote into our Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Congress, which writes our laws could not establish a state religion. BUT it also could not prohibit folks from practicing their religion. Because they believed that only a moral and religious people could govern themselves. They recognized the urge for power and fame often influenced a leaders ability to govern well. And a people who have little character or morals would elect the ones who would give them what they wanted rather than considering what was best for all.

Really i would appreciate for starting a wonderful discussion. This kind of tough discussion is needed for social awareness and upgrading of social political knowledge. Religion and politics are not at all interrelated but our recent government trends has adopted religion as a strategy for getting into people votes. We all people must erupt towards this social justice and have a good political governance without the interference of politics in religion or vice-versa.

It should keep the government away from starting wars or abusing their own citizens, but it doesn`t always work.

Hi, In our country religion plays important role in politics. Political parties take the advantage of religion for winning the elections. Integrity of our country is in danger because of these political parties as they use religion as their weapon to fight in elections.

now a days the religion importence is more popular.

It is not about "religion" in politics, but rather about God, who, in the first instance, ordained government and established it according to His Word. Religion is the construct of man and his ways of looking at God, morality, the universe, etc. through manmade doctrines, laws, systems of thought. God is God all by Himself and He is clear in His Word as to how government should work. When we follow His Word, we are protected by Him, peaceful, and prosperous. When we reject Him, we lose our safety, protection, and prosperity and find ourselves at the mercy of flawed, corrupt, greedy "man", thus subjugation to tyranny. The foundational documents of the USA are based on God's design and framed by the founders who came to this country to worship God freely. However, "secular humanism" has become an entrenched STATE RELIGION in many countries and is destroying us. http://vftonline.org/Patriarchy/definitions/humanism_religion.htm "The U.S. Supreme Court cited Secular Humanism as a religion in the 1961 case of Torcaso v. Watkins (367 U.S. 488). Roy Torcaso, the appellant, a practicing Humanist in Maryland, had refused to declare his belief in Almighty God, as then required by State law in order for him to be commissioned as a notary public. The Court held that the requirement for such an oath "invades appellant's freedom of belief and religion." The Court declared in Torcaso that the "no establishment" clause of the First Amendment reached far more than churches of theistic faiths, that it is not the business of government or its agents to probe beliefs, and that therefore its inquiry is concluded by the fact of the profession of belief. Actually, the Court in Torcaso rested its decision on "free exercise" grounds, not the "Establishment Clause." Abington v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203, 264-65 (1962) J. Brennan, concurring. The Court stated: We repeat and again reaffirm that neither a State nor the Federal Government can constitutionally force a person to "profess a belief or disbelief in any religion." Neither can constitutionally pass laws or impose requirements which aid all religions as against non-believers,10 and neither can aid those religions based on a belief in the existence of God as against those religions founded on different beliefs.11 Footnote 11 concerning "religions founded on different beliefs" contains the Court's citation of Secular Humanism as a religion. It states Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism, and others. See Washington Ethical Society v. District of Columbia, 101 U.S. App. D.C. 371, 249 F.2d 127; Fellowship of Humanity v. County of Alameda, 153 Cal. App. 2d 673, 315 P.2d 394; II Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences 293; 4 Encyclopedia Britannica (1957 ed.) 325-327; 21 id., at 797; Archer, Faiths Men Live By (2d ed. revised by Purinton), 120-138, 254-313; 1961 World Almanac 695, 712; Year Book of American Churches for 1961, at 29, 47. We live in a moral universe created by God. When any "religion", theistic or atheistic (like secular humanism) violates God's morality, governments and politics fail. Of course God knew, as He did re the "fall" in the Garden, that we are not fit to govern ourselves due to our sin nature, so He told us that when Jesus returns, "the government will be upon His shoulders".

It is difficult I guess. Religion is always involve in politics. It is because religion is the one who control the society as a whole that also reflects from its culture. That is why for me, sometimes religion has a major role n politics.

Hi, There was a time when religion and politics were close allies. But then, people mistakenly thought they could mix the two, temporal matters of politics and the spiritual concerns of religion. In theory, it is feasible and attractive. Rulers guided by the tenets of spiritual principles of love, truth and justice to look after the welfare of their constituents, so far so good. Enter deceit, lies, personal interest, and the whole gamut of human frailty to resist the temptation of the evil one and we have one big unhappy family, on the upper hand those who have all the means to satisfy their endless desires and on the other end, those who suffer endlessly to satisfy that need. Religion, thus, is a good guiding principle in way of governance with its eternal wisdom, that is, if the people wielding it follow those principles to the letter.

I think religion influences politics. Most congregations tend to bestow much confidence in their religious leaders and as such, influences their decisions.