metrognome
in support of Carl’s comments in the original post, I give you …. Texas!!!! How about a round of applause …
as far as ‘religion in the public square’, it will never go away. Why?
1) voters will always vote for candidates who reflect their stand on major issues, whether said voter is Christian, Baha’i, pagan, Jewish, atheist/agnostic, Muslim, Quaker, etc. (sorry to those who were left off this rather incomplete list.)
2) money/taxes will always be the ultimate source of conflict on issues. Even if we could get agreement on any specific issue (abortions, same-sex marriage, war, drug enforcement, etc.), someone’s belief system will stand up and say, ‘I guess (fill in the blank) should be legal, but I don’t want my tax dollars to pay for (you guessed it, fill in the blank.)
3) there will always be factions that want to restrict someone’s access to something that they consider immoral (i.e. abortions, alcohol, drugs, certain sexual activity, etc.) while simultaneously proclaiming the need for small, non-intrusive government). Then there are the factions that want corporate (remember, they are people too) profits restricted so that we have decent wages and benefits, breathable air, drinkable water, etc.) Many view restricting accruing wealth as unreasonable on moral grounds; this is the ‘new’ religion. That and sports, which is also a religion (btw, did you know that specific legislation was passed in the 60’s that makes the NFL equivalent to a religious institution in the federal tax code?)
It would be a different world if people who want to use their moral beliefs to restrict others access to activities instead took the approach that, ‘I don’t believe in (abortions, alcohol sales on Sunday, same-sex marriage, etc.) so I’m not (going to have an abortion, buy/drink hooch on Sunday, marry someone of my gender, etc.)’ Nah, it’ll never happen …