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Most commentators explain that the importance of being religious lies entirely in within the spiritual satisfaction of the individual. There are, however, some other views on the importance of begin religious.

An entirely pragmatic (and, some would say, cynical) reason for regarding religion and religious practice as important, is that it will help the individual succeed in societies where such beliefs are compulsory by law or by custom. Playing lip service (at least; but you can really believe if you want, it makes no difference) to the "correct" religious ideas and practices will certainly not hinder the social and economic progress of any individual within their society; but ignoring or flouting them certainly will. This is not just true of states with a "national" religion. This also applies, but more subtly and less openly, in so-called secular societies. The pressure to conform with the accepted norm that everyone has a spiritual life if immense.

No US president or politician can get through a speech without mentioning god. Not any particular god, just god. It is important for such people to have a religious life: without it they wouldn't get elected. It also allows them to justify any outrageous policy they can dream up from their own personal prejudices: if they find it in their religious texts, it must be true. This attitude isn't confined to the USA, but is most evident there. "Being religious" is not for the benefit of soul, it is for the benefit of the bank-balance and the status barometer. It is therefore vitally important to "be religious" in the USA if you want to succeed (particularly in politics).

Such a situation is usually regarded as only being evident in the Islamic states of the middle and far east. There, "being religious" is also important for allowing the individual to participate in the economic and political life of the state. It is also important for keeping the individual on the right side of the law: if you fail to "be religious" in the right way, you will end up in prison. Since the mode of government is dictated by religious beliefs, any dissention with government is seen as dissention with religion and punished as such. In the West, we feel that we're above this sort of thing and don't pressurise our citizens directly into conforming with a state religion.

But consider: can you imagine a political leader in the West refusing to enter a church or temple for a state occasion because they regarded religion as a personal matter and

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