I don't know if this has been brought up before, but I saw an interesting story on TV the other night regarding the fact that George Bush I planning to make his second term a mroe religious affair, and that he veiws the 'war on terror' as an almost holy crusade. Now I dont' think those were his exact words, but that is the jist of it. It is stated how Bush relied on many Christian voters to help him back into office, and that many Christian groups have advocated the Republican vote (I'm sure you Americans may have had this splashed all over the news).

It also inverviewed a relgious leader who claimed he felt like his religion had been hijacked, because he didn't feel that Christianity should be used to justify the goverments decisions "I often ask: how did Jesus become pro-rich, pro-war and only pro-American? You feel like your faith has been hijacked. I think the political right has indeed tried to hijack faith, and now some of us want to take it back, almost in a rescue operation."

I have always wondered with the swearing in of politcal leaders - would it be accepted if the president of the usa was sworn in "to serve and protect the country, so help me Allah"? If not then does religion have a place among politics? Spirituality and morality maybe, but set religion?

Not trying to offend anyones beliefs but just wanting to know opinions.

Personally I don't think it has, because it seems that everytime it does it only brings forth hate, predjudice and fear of other religions. It also kind of scares me to see that here in Australia religion has become increasingly intertwined, and I know that Christianity or any other religion for that matter does not embody such predjudice, yet in the political arena Christian values seem to be twisted to serve other purposes.

Tell me what you think. Maybe this shoulc be in the philosophy section... I dunno.