Well, it's progress.

Via NPR last night, a new Pew Research Poll showing a turn-around on attitudes about involving religion in politics, with a narrow majority saying that it is a bad idea. What might be a little surprising, is that most of the change has come from the conservative side of the spectrum. From the report:

Some Americans are having a change of heart about mixing religion and politics. A new survey finds a narrow majority of the public saying that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters and not express their views on day-to-day social and political matters. For a decade, majorities of Americans had voiced support for religious institutions speaking out on such issues.

The new national survey by the Pew Research Center reveals that most of the reconsideration of the desirability of religious involvement in politics has occurred among conservatives. Four years ago, just 30% of conservatives believed that churches and other houses of worship should stay out of politics. Today, 50% of conservatives express this view.

As a result, conservatives' views on this issue are much more in line with the views of moderates and liberals than was previously the case. Similarly, the sharp divisions between Republicans and Democrats that previously existed on this issue have disappeared.

OK, let's not overstate things: it is depressing that only 52% of those polled say that churches should stay the hell out of politics. But it is nonetheless progress, and more than I would have hoped for.

So, why has this happened? I suspect that it is due entirely to the faithful on the right being disappointed with how the Republicans have behaved in office. Not only has the Bush Administration turned everything they've touched to shit, but they have done so in the most dividing manner possible. Even those who profess faith have eventually got to make note of the dire reality of the political situation.

My own thoughts on the matter tend to align with Jefferson's.* Sure, I'll still promote rational skeptical thought, and occasionally make fun of religious absurdity - but so long as they keep their religion out of my government, I'm happy. In fact, I think some of what we're seeing with this reported shift is religious people coming around to realizing what I've said for years: the separation of church and state is very much in the interests of religion. Why? Because no church, no sect, should ever be in the business of regulating the actions of others, through the power of government - they should each be left alone to their own delusions. To do otherwise is to tie your faith to the fortunes of political leaders. (As an aside, I think this is the exact same mistake that many pro-RKBA groups have made.)

So, yeah, it's progress.

Jim Downey

*"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."