"Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square." [CNN] We talk about this a lot on PinkDome. While I have strong Christian beliefs, I strongly believe in the separation of Church and State. There is a fine line in letting your Christian values lead you in decisions and forcing your Christian beliefs as the rule of law. There is more opportunity for common ground in positions of moderation than in extremism. We must work together to do what's best for all of America, not political pranks to pander to one voter base.
Check out the Respect Our Faith pledge, a movement by Texas clergy. Today the Texas Clergy will deliver a message at University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe in Austin (second floor, outside the sanctuary) to speak out against the politicization of religion.
But isn't the bigger picture here the fact that Obama is saying "Hey, not all Democrats dismiss religion and hate kittens?"
Until the DNC figures this out, they will struggle to overcome the passionate vote that the far right wing does as part of a stronger committment to God. They feel this stronger committment because the Republicans have made that connection. Basically, "If you love God, you vote Republican because we are not baby killers, not flag burners, and we loathe freeloaders (read as illigal immigrants)."
The Republican strategy has been a reaction to the Democrats percieved weakness. I.E. a party that was seen as weak on morality. The way to evolve past this current dogmatic phase is to reemphasize spirituality without blasting religion. The concept of loving your neighbor and that it sometimes requires all of society to help them out (eg. appropriate protections like a well run CPS, or education and training for welfare recipients.) In our form of government it is a constant push and pull. Protection of individuals rights to worship should be a constant and basic premise of our constitution.
The Republicans have just about used up their moral superiority, I think.
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I too have Christian beliefs, and they may not align perfectly with yours, or the rest of the millions of Christian belief havers in America. When the government stays out of those issues, we then are free to have variations on our beliefs without the government deciding who is more correct. You get it totally.