A couple of weeks ago, the Sunday morning political TV program "Meet the Press" featured guest clergymen from opposite sides of the political spectrum -- Al Sharpton and two "Christian Right" leaders (one them might have been Jerry Flawell -- memory fails to serve).

Rev. Sharpton -- someone I have *not* always admired or agreed with -- delivered the best line on this topic I've heard in a while. I'll paraphrase, of course:

"I believe in Jesus; I'm saved. But the Jesus I believe in lived his life as an example for the rest of us. He asked people to follow him, but did not coerce them to do so. He did not try to wield the power of the state to force people to act according to his wishes, as you people do."