Text 6392, 63 rader
Skriven 2008-03-01 18:38:04 av Alan Hess
Ärende: Religion and politics
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www.baltimoresun.com/services/newspaper/printedition/saturday/opinion/bal-ed.r
eligion01mar01,0,5802785.story
baltimoresun.com
Got religion?

March 1, 2008

Not long ago, religion was something one generally didn't discuss in public.
These days, it seems everyone wants to talk about his or her beliefs -
especially everyone running for president. But some of the things they say make
you realize why religion was a taboo topic for so long.

Sen. John McCain, for example, agreed with the 55 percent of Americans who said
in a poll that "the Constitution established the United States of America as a
Christian nation." Muslims, Jews and others were surprised to hear this news
(the Constitution does not mention Christianity).

Then there's Mike Huckabee, who apparently considers the absence of
state-mandated religion a problem to be rectified. The former Arkansas governor
and ordained Baptist minister would like to amend our founding document so that
it aligns with "God's standards" on such issues as when life begins and
same-sex marriage. Of course, many clergy members - including many Christians -
strongly differ with Mr. Huckabee on precisely what "God's standards" are.

Not to be outdone by the Republicans, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign distributed
a brochure proclaiming him a "committed Christian" and featuring photos of the
candidate praying or preaching. Sen. Hillary Clinton has been quieter about her
religiosity, but she did issue a public call to "inject faith into policy."

Now comes a major survey of religion in America from the Pew Forum on Religion
and Public Life based on interviews with 35,000 adults. It reveals a nation
where faith is fungible: Fully 44 percent of respondents said they have changed
religions. That means religion, one of the most important aspects of personal
identity, is also one of the most fluid.

Protestants are still a bare majority, but probably not for long. The clear
trend is away from institutional religion - exemplified by the Catholic Church
and mainline Protestantism - and toward more individualized forms of belief,
whether the personal relationship with Jesus that many evangelical churches
promise or the do-it-yourself religion of the "unaffiliated" - now the
fourth-largest category, at 16 percent.

And why not? In America, each person decides where and how to live. No one
tells us whom we can marry or vote for. Don't like your life? Quit your job;
leave the state; start over. Little wonder that in a nation founded by people
who wanted to practice their religion freely, so many of us move on from our
ancestral faith.

So: a "Christian nation"? Perhaps not forever. Before writing anyone's faith
into law, let's take a deep breath and consider this rather surprising defense
of secularism from a man whose presidential hopes may have been dashed by
suspicion of his religious beliefs: "[Even] those who don't have faith
typically believe in something greater than themselves - a purpose-driven
life."

Thanks for the reminder, Mitt Romney. And amen.

- Michael Cross-Barnet

Copyright + 2008, The Baltimore Sun

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