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Why Religion in Politics is Dangerous Today
The idea that governments should “protect” the religious beliefs of their citizens is laughable, if not outright dangerous. What does that even mean? Are they supposed to be the arbiters of faith, stepping in to shield people from religious criticism or, worse, promoting one religion over others under the guise of protection?
It’s a slippery slope, and anyone paying attention knows exactly where that road leads. The moment a government starts meddling in religious affairs, what we’re really talking about is a slow, inevitable creep toward theocratic rule. And trust me, history doesn’t look kindly on those experiments.
Look at the global trends. Countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines — where religion runs deep — are all for it. About 90% of adults in these places want leaders who defend their religious values. On the surface, it sounds like people just want a leader who understands their moral compass, right? Wrong.
What they really want is control — a leader who uses religion as a weapon to uphold a specific belief system while marginalizing anyone who doesn’t fit that mold. It’s not about protection; it’s about domination.
Then there’s the U.S., where 64% of adults say it’s important for the president to stand up for those who share their religious beliefs. What happened to the whole “separation of church and state” thing? It’s in the Constitution, right?
But, sure, let’s keep pushing for religion in politics and see how long it takes before secular governance goes up in flames. Do we really want a country where politicians have to check your religious affiliation before deciding if you’re worth defending? Because that’s where we’re headed.
Contrast that with countries like France, Japan, and South Korea, where only about a quarter of the population feels this way. These places aren’t perfect, but they’re not demanding that their leaders put religion front and center.
Why? Because they understand that the minute religion takes the wheel, the idea of equality, diversity, and even basic human rights gets thrown out the window. The fewer ties a government has to any…
