The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution forbids the creation of an official state church, and we hear the phrase "separation of church and state" so frequently that it may surprise us to note that no such barrier exists between religion and politics. Religion is, and always has been, woven into the fabric of American political life. In the last two decades, however, the role of religion in politics has become more directalmost a blunt, self-conscious force in the political process. The national consequences of this "diminishing divide" between religion and politics have brought new...
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution forbids the creation of an official state church, and we hear the phrase "separation of church and sta...