Religion in Politics

Religion and politics in the United States are tied inextricably to one another, a tandem that is manifest in several key ways. From the efforts of religious special interest groups to influence public policy to candidates' goals of appealing to a large portion of the populace, religious faith is both a desired end as well as a tool used by eager politicians. Religion has recently been recognized as a necessary component of American political platforms. In comparison to the world's other industrialized nations, the United States is a rather religious country, and this characteristic is evident in several modern political and journalistic trends.

[Page 707]Regardless of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the Constitution—ensuring the populace that the federal government shall make no law ...