Discussion | Religion and Politics

"If you want to remain friends, never talk politics or religion."

Often these two are so intertwined that it becomes like a cancer - the surrounding 'tissue' of religion makes it impossible to remove/change the policy position without removing parts of the religion too.

For those of us without a religion (or recently left one), we can freely adjust our views on policy without adhering to dogma. We can make these decisions based on facts and sound arguments - not feelings or religious doctrine. Still, our views can be colored by our own 'code' - similar to that of a believer whose 'code' comes from their belief.

Are policy positions justified if they are guided by a belief in a god? Are we as non-believers doing the same if our positions are guided by a lack of belief? Can there ever truly be a separation of religion (church) and politics (state)?

*If this event looks familiar - it is. I decided to revisit this discussion based on a discussion I recently had with a new member.*