How much?

Difficult to quantify. My early upbringing involved Christian teachings which doubtless maintain an effect on my ethical views. My judgment of a candidate, a policy or governmental action (more often inaction) is closely tied to what I believe to be the “right” thing to do.

I have no desire to change anyone’s religious beliefs and resent anyone trying to impose theirs on me. I have come to my own view over a long period of examination and am comfortable with my conclusions.

I believe the “church and state” objections are seldom valid and oppose the banning of such things as Christmas trees, or symbols of other religions. The US Constitution seems perfectly clear that only if religious beliefs become a requirement in some way is there any violation.

I see no problem in leaving “under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance unless the reciting of such is made a requirement.

Most of this banning stuff is pure silliness.

My religious views shape all my political views, I can’t separate them.

My personal (ever evolving) relationship with God demands I consider all of His/Her/Its creation and children as my own. Again, it’s my personal view that omniscient and omnipresent mean just that, and a creator cannot be separate from the creation.Therefore the well being of all everywhere must be reflected in my political choices as much as practicable or I’m a hypocrite.

How much does religion shape my political views?  Personally, my initial response would be not at all. 

However, try getting elected in the USA as a ‘non-religious’ person.  Fat chance!  In this context, yes religion inevitably gets involved in all our political views, whether we want it or not.

Don’t get me wrong: I’d be the last one to want to curtail freedom of religion in any way, but let’s make it plain that your religion is between you, your beliefs and your co-practitioners.  It is exactly synonymous with any other association - dog club, fan club, etc, etc - you name it….

There is a valid point of view that religion could (should?) be viewed as the ‘ultimate superstition’.  And before everyone gets on their high horse about that, let me add that it is not necessary to be religious to be a good person.  Religion absolutely does not have a monopoly on morality.  Check out the publication ‘Free Inquiry’ for more.

The USA prides itself on being an advanced society, but there is a lot of catching up to be done regarding freedom of thought and the separation of Church and State (Faith Based Initiative, pah! - Can you believe it?), compared with much of Europe.  Whatever happened to The Enlightenment?

And please, don’t tell me we have to be like this to counter the insane currents of thought infecting the Middle East.  Who is aping who? (or should that be whom?)

Organized religion is responsible for most of the man-made woes of this species. I can’t support any mindset that feels ANY religion is superior, and therefore the one to be forced upon the populace. Americans sometimes don’t see this, but that is what is going on here, to a very large degree. How do the people advocating more religion in the public realm define ‘freedom’? That’s what we’re all about, right….freedom?