The U.S. is undoubtedly a country that functions based on religion. The reasons for that are historical — the time and manner in which the country was established. It’s a country that has never fought against religion, has never had a movement rise against it; at the same time it’s a country very tolerant to freedom of religious expression.
Americans strongly believe that only religion can give moral backbone, so the state or managerial posts can be entrusted only to those who have high morality. That’s why atheists aren’t tolerated at all, in part because of the old association with communism, but generally speaking, it’s assumed that if one doesn’t believe in God and isn’t guided by transcendence in life, one is deprived of a basis of morality and shouldn’t be in charge of other people.
However, nobody, including politicians, is pressed to ostentatiously practice religion. Many presidents — formerly Ronald Reagan, and now Barack Obama — don’t go to church on Sunday and nobody begrudges them that. It’s a private matter, how often I go and to what church, but I do have to believe. It’s taken for granted and actually indisputable.
Church’s Interference with Functioning of the State Completely Forbidden
There’s also the issue of separation of church and state, which is very strictly observed in the U.S. Anything like interference by any church with the function of any governing body doesn’t exist at all. It’s completely forbidden, just as financing of churches by the state are forbidden, etc. The separation is very strong. Americans get along with it very well and there aren’t any serious controversies about it. Minor issues arise from time to time, including a couple of cases in the Supreme Court. Their subjects concerned whether a monument with the Ten Commandments could be put up in front of a state building or not. The Supreme Court has always dealt with these matters.
Religion in the U.S. isn’t used as a political weapon. Of course there are sometimes religions that are hard to accept, like Mormonism, which is not fully understandable because, after all, it originates from America. There are obviously Mormon politicians in high places, such as the speaker of the House of Representatives, not to mention Romney.* In a way, this religion is seen as a little strange, but does not make it impossible to have a career.
There’s a lot of respect for the way one practices and where one practices faith. Nobody is attacked because of their religion. Such a story happened to Obama — his pastor expressed stupid opinions and they tried to somehow put the blame on Obama. It was cut off very quickly because everybody recognized that it’s not an important argument — if the pastor is stupid, one can change the church, but not disqualify the politician right away.
Romney’s Television Ad Made Bigger Impression in Poland than in the US
Mitt Romney’s recent ad, in which he appears with Pope John Paul II and Lech Walesa, is an element of the election battle. Romney wanted to get to Catholic voters and present himself as more sensitive to religious issues. He didn’t accuse Obama of being godless, but stated that he’s closer to Catholicism and faith than Obama, with his supposed inclination to socialism. Nobody in the U.S. was particularly impressed; the ad perhaps made a much bigger impression in Poland.
*Editor’s Note: John Boehner, current speaker of the House, is Catholic, not Mormon.
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