Has religion become a bunch of competing sects all lobbying Gov't to push their beliefs on everyone else?
348489
ALL religion should be kept out of politics. PERIOD. its just bad news. plus, how is it fair that christian holidays are federal holidays, but buddihst, muslim, jewish, pagan, wiccan, ect ARENT? politics+religion= bad news. just look at all the countries that are ruled by religion. religion has no place in politics, in my opinion
1090025
Yes I believe it has gone to far.  I remember saying it when I was in school (I am 32 now) and there was nothing wrong with it then or now.  It dosn't say WHICH god so it shouldn't be an issue.  Most people have their own gods.  Is only the athiests that have a problem.  They say the division between church and state but once again it dosnt say what type of church so why does it matter.
1018892
Organized religion is the culprit.
831969
Mostly organized religion!
35105
It is not just christians but most of the organized religions, which  have large a following tend to develope multiple perspectives.
430409
Atheists have seen how dangerous and frightening the rising tide of religious unreason can be, we are realising we have to defend ourselves against intolerant zealotry that is becoming incrersingly politicised and aggressively pushing it's agenda onto Goverment policy making.\n\nThose atheists who previously never formed into groups (herding atheists is traditionally like herding cats...difficult)) are now getting seriously organised at last. It is as though zealots are trying to pretend the enlightenment never happened...well it did and we will not be going back to the dark ages when superstiton and religion reigned over reason...\n\nExpect opposition to religious intolerance and unreason to be stepped up and the debate about human rights to widen. Time to see who actually holds the moral high ground and to do that we will need to examine religion very closely and confront it's postive and negative aspects then weigh up the difference.\n\nAre religions really the positive force they claim to be, or are we better off as a society ignoring them?
524746
Perhaps it is due to the increased choice people have in belief systems rather than disenchantment with a single religion.\n\nEvery generation has considered the following generation and their environment to be less respectful, less moral etc etc\n\nPeace out
628124
I really don't see that happening, at least not in the forseeable future, because we are too diverse.  Just look at all the religions in this country, to say nothing of agnostics and atheists.  We're a very quarrelsome people and it would, pardon the pun, take an act of God to get us to all agree on something of that magnitude.\n\nI do agree with the person that said there are people in this country now who would do it for Bush (can we say fanatics?) but on the whole, I just don't think it'll happen for eons.
576730
Probably none.  Many were agnostics (as well as atheists).  That is why they (tried) to establish a gov't free from religion, so the two could operate seperately and without one poisoning the other.  A two-way safety net.
977877
Number Two. There will always be religious people. Because of propaganda, media, and other sources, most of them will not realize that the central point to all religions is to treat everyone as you would want to be treated. So different religons will continue fighting until one is almost completely dominant over all the others. Even then, there'll be uprisings.\nAn alternative would be for all countries to become secular and tolerate all relgions, then no religion will dominate all others.\nNot only that, but as more and more people get educated, more and more people will become atheist or agnostic.
739640
Not during our lifetime. Not while we still have religious"leaders" who think they know 100% what Buddha, Jesus, whomever said. Not while leaders of countries declare war and follow it immediately by saying "May God Bless......". Not while religions teach that THEIR religion is the ONLY path to God. Not while politicians try to be Religious leaders and religious leaders act like politicians. Not while the answer to children who were abused by Priests is to cover it up instead of helping the victims. \n\nI wish I had a better answer for you.
508494
Not in the least.  Take a look around and you'll see that just about every faith is slammed by people here.  Look at the way some supposed religious people answer questions about other faiths and you'll see that Christians do plenty of viewing others negatively themselves.
1049054
I think that not only do they have a high ego, but can actually be dangerous to society.  I believe in God, but I disbelieve in organized religion.  I believe that our hearts are the temples we worship God in.  Basically, any small group of people who get together to make decisions for a large group of people make me uneasy.  If you back one of those fundamentalists into a corner and ask the hard questions like "Why did my Mom die of cancer?" or "Why did my little boy get hit by a car?"....you're going to get "It's God's will"  or  "the Lord works in mysterious ways".  The truth is, they don't know.  But they DO know that God wants you to vote Republican, and He's against raising taxes but He's for the defense, and even though it's one of His creations, He desperately hates marijuana.   Personally, they just make me nervous.
404511
A previous poster was correct.  The Constitution does not state anything about a separation of church and state.  However, if we wish to have freedom of religion, it is in the best interest of all to have a separation of church and state.\n\nIf one religion became predominant and was adopted as an official religion... other religions would naturally face greater obstacles.  How would a christian feel if satanism was the predominant religion?  \n\nI am an atheist... I don't believe there is a god or gods.  I will be the first to admit that I could be wrong.  I believe firmly in freedom of religion.  We need separation of church and state if we wish to keep that freedom for all of us.\n\nI currently think that there are several religions (Mormonism, the Moonies, Christian Fundamentalists to name a few) that seek preferential treatment by the government over other religions.  I think a large civil divide is occuring over this issue.
806424
I have read some of the above and these answers are ridiculous. Politicians use their 'faith' in some religion to exploit more voters. Religious people like to 'follow' someone or something that claims to represent 'good', so the politicians use that tool to get them voters. Bush says he is a man of God, he starts a war killing thousands of civilians and almost 3000 Americans. Is this what a Christian or God fearing man would do? A 'godly' man supposedly hasn't made mistakes if you believe a politician. They haven't 'sinned' by drinking a beer, lusting after a woman, smoking a cigarette - they tell us this anyway. Frankly, I want an elected official who has life experience and isn't perfect, maybe someone who has had a few knocks, because they have lived and know what a loaf of bread costs in a supermarket. Do you think W knows what it costs? Jerry Falwell? Mark Haggard? Hell no, they have no idea because someone else buys it for them.  They don't go to stores like you and I do. If they claim to be 'religious' they don't get my vote.  One needs to only look at the Catholic priest/pedophiles and Haggard to realize that "Godliness" is not all that it is cracked up to be.
955734
Hi handsome.  I wonder if there are more fanatics now or do we just see more of them because of our association to Q/A.  I live in the bible belt and Texas  has always been a politically conservative state for as long as I can remember.  If anything is true, I see a change towards more liberal thinking down here.  It will not be long, I hope, before more people wise up to the dangers of mixing religion and the law.
1099068
all religions could collide as one. but people won't be too tolerant about it.