The Big Picture

Disarray

This article makes the recent decline in religious politics seem like a damper on future elections, seems to deflate any hopes of Republican success in the next generation of politics; but maybe it's for the better in the long run. Instead of Republican candidates using God to try and persuade voters, they will stick strictly to the issues at hand and not bring in some intangible, external being into the mix. True, the Democrats might have the advantage in the upcoming election, but look at the mess George Bush got into by justifying his actions through the Bible. Halfway through the article the reporter cites a few young adults who feel embarrassed to have any association with their church because of the bad name politics have created for them. Leaving politics out of religion is the smartest move for church leaders who are finally beginning to catch on. Church is a place of worship, and everything else should be left at home; same goes for politics, someone can use their beliefs to shape their own opinions but they should not be imposed on those who not only do not follow the faith, but may not have any faith at all. This article tends to take an understanding, yet confused tone on the split between evangelicals in this election, and as long as they continue to not harbor any harsh criticism towards the division of religion and politics, the public might catch on as well. I understand it will never be possible to completely abandon one's religious faith when discusses the many political issues that may stem from religion, but making decisions that effect an entire nation should be done under different pretenses than words from a book that not everyone believes in.