Oh yes. Religiously active voters and politicos are a key "platoon" (as Burke put it) in our society. Their input is needed or else they will eventually be chained by those who love power.
That said, there is a line Christians must tread while confronting different ideologies. Too often do I find Christians of all kinds appropriating ideological planks and incorporating them into their faith, or vice versa. A good friend of mine, while he is very intelligent (more intelligent than me anyway), loves to simplify the world to make it more suitable for his Religious Right brain to handle. To him the Founders were not influenced by Grecco-Roman thinkers like Cicero or Solon the Lawgiver, they were, in fact, all disciples of Jerry Falwell's past incarnation.
This kind of myopia is dangerous to both one's walk and the body politic. Of course, the Religious Right isn't the only group to do this. Look up Liberation Theology. That's a hoot and a half.
"Of course, it is possible for any citizen with time to spare, and a canny eye, to work out what is actually going on, but for the many there is not time, and the network news is the only news even though it may not be news at all but only a series of flashing fictions..."
- Gore Vidal
I agree with your statement that religious persons form a key group in political society. Why not? Every person has a particular point of political views and those who share common ideologies of necessity must band together to influence the society they live in. If they do not or if they did not, they would deserve whatever act of force or coercion the government chose to inflict upon them. As in the old proverb, you get the sort of government you deserve.
There is a lot of rhetoric opposing 'Christian' political activity these days. In point of fact, I see little if any at all. The criticism is wasted and misdirected.
Gays, for example, often hold forth with great gusto in their claims that Christians are holding them back in some way or form. This accusation is completely untrue and is used as a crutch or glue to create political cohesion in the gay special interest group. Without a scape goat, the leaders of the gay alliance would have nothing to holler about. BE IT KNOWN that the Muslim influence is growing in America as well as the rest of the world. Muslims are viciously intolerant of gays and have openly declared the punishment of death for any sodomites. Muslims are gaining ground and any political gains won by the gay crowd will be short lived. Enjoy it while you have it boys and girls.
The same is true for atheists and aggressive agnostics. Because of the Islamic influence, they will be forced to accept the religion and/or go underground with their bankrupt metaphysical philosophy.
America's Two-Party Political System - A Two-Headed Snake
- Russell Longcore
The eternal contest between Republicans and Democrats has devolved into a political circus joke. There is no longer any difference between the two.
"The sole problem of our ruling class is whether to coerce or to bribe the powerless majority."
Brooks Adams
"The corporate grip on opinion in the United States is one of the wonders of the Western world. No First World country has ever managed to eliminate so entirely from its media all objectivity - much less dissent."
Gore Vidal
The oligarchs now rule the united States, not the people and not the pseudo-political parties (D's and R's).
The Pentagon is now beyond and outside of civilian control. The nation is deeply into its militaristic fetish.
There now exists in this country an idolatry and worship of the military that is beyond normal expectancy or justice.
I say this in accusation of the churches which are wholly and completely responsible for American aggression and military barbarism as well as the debt and blood it has caused to US.
As of this writing, no amount of torture abherrent bombing of civilians and invasions is questioned by Christians. The united States now has occupation troops in 150 countries, over 900 military facilities in foreign lands, the Navy is larger than the next 17 nations COMBINED and our total armed forces is the largest on the planet (of the next 12 nations 5 are our allies). [Pentagon figures all......some critics claim numbers much larger than the ones I quote here]
"The adult members of churches today rarely raise serious religious questions for fear of revealing their doubts or being thought of as strange. There is an implicit conspiracy of silence on religious matters in the churches. This conspiracy covers up the fact that the churches do not change lives or influence conduct to any appreciable degree."
- Clyde Reid
American churches today are spiritually and morally bankrupt. The only real programs of substance involve building projects. There are mission programs, but all of them are a shadow of the total resources dedicated to building greater and greater real estate developments. Churches AS WELL AS American political parties no longer have a conscience.
The uS congress is little more than political puppets of the financial cartels. Anything the bankers want, Washington gives them. The only debate is how much and when.
Americans now live in a militaristic fascist state with NO real voice in their own government or future.
"The American people have no idea what is happening to them."
- Pravda
There is a sense throughout the land that 'someone has stolen' our country from us.
Trying to explain who took it, however, often meets with objection since the truth is a hard pill to swallow.
The only real solution at this point is secession. Disband the union and tear up the constitution (it's already an obsolete document any way).
When an athlete or team is having problems, a good coach will always take them back to basics.
When a marriage is on the rocks, a counselor will recommend going back to the beginnings - the basics of the relationship.
It's time for Americans to wake up and do the right thing to restore liberty in the land and secure it for our children.
Secession. Will it happen?
Personally I believe this to be the only viable solution. Do Americans today have the stomach for it? Sadly, I do not believe we do.
As a consequence we shall see the light of liberty diminish, wither and go silent.
To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last - but eat you he will.
Ronald Reagan
Those who have known freedom and lost it have never known it again.
Ronald Reagan 01/05/67