Religion in politics often a regional issue

A Harvard University professor wants religious separation out of the 2008 election.
Harvard public policy lecturer Richard Parker spoke about the role of religion in politics and how it affects political elections at the Universalist Unitarian First Church in Arlington Wednesday night. He outlined the demographics of the concentration of various denominations in different areas of the country.
‘We need to think about the geography of religion,’ he said. ‘It was both regional and religious divisions that split America into two political parties.’
Parker said presidential politics have been dominated by Protestantism, which has created a religious divide that fostered a dislike and distrust of other Christian denominations.
‘The election of Kennedy marked a watershed moment in American political history,’ he said. ‘It was the first time we voted non-Protestant.’
Parker also spoke about the rise of the Religious Right over the last 30 years, as it relates to the present-day political scene.
‘It is important to keep the church separate from the state to protect the state from the church as well as the church from the state,’ said Parker.
First Church member Nancy Atwood said she agreed with Parker’s views and that ‘there should be almost complete separation of church from state.’
‘Religion should play no role in identifying the merits of a political candidate,’ she said.
First Church member Peter Banos disagreed, noting it is often difficult to define a line between church and state.
‘It is impossible to compartmentalize religion and politics and separate the two, because the same people are doing both,’ he said. ‘You can’t split yourself into your religious self and your political self, because you’re one person.’
First Church member Lorna Lynch said though morals should play a role in politics, political parties should not translate those morals to religious views.
‘I think [politicians] should have ethical beliefs and not religious ones,’ she said.