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In discussions on the Democratic presidential nomination, much has been made of the inflammatory comments by Barack Obama's former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright. The remarks led the Illinois senator to make an historic speech about race, among other sensitive things, that did quite go so far as distancing the candidate from the reverend. The issue underscores that a politician's religious experience, if not also direct practice, has been attractive fodder for public scrutiny at least since a Roman Catholic was elected to the highest office of the land over four decades ago.

But what should we really make of the fuss over the religious background, beliefs, or practices of public officials? Has the perceived (or actual) piety of a modern US politician ever clearly shown itself in policies that a benevolent God would presumably favor - more loving, more sacrificial, and more beneficial to the public good? Is there an advantage for our society to elect a leader who constantly invokes God and his or her faith compared to one who is more agnostic in public utterances?

Perhaps a reality check is in order. The basic reality is that religion is used by a fair number of people in the US as a simple and largely rote engagement in a social and cultural tradition that is considered normal, appropriate, and moral in our society. Many engage in organized religious practice out of expectation and habit and even a sense of desperate need. Indeed, the incredible spirit and powerful impact of black churches in this country has at least partially evolved out of tremendous and longtime suffering of African-Americans in this life who eye a better lot in the next one.

There is little doubt that most politicians are not as religious as they say they are or as they hope we will believe they are - but one cannot run for high political office without waxing religious, requisite behavior that blurs the separation of church and state. It's notable that the higher office you are seeking, the more religious you must sell yourself to being. And how ironic that the work of high-level politics is mostly at odds with true goodness and ethical behavior and anything remotely tied to religious morality; elected leaders often have to negotiate deals with political and corporate pawns who regularly bring damage to society and the environment and may support, at all costs, the muscling-up of a military machine that today is far more likely to kill innocent children than dangerous enemies of the state.

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