But you and the Gnome are both forgetting that a great deal of the politics is created by the religions in the first place. The politics in these cases arises because of the hatred and difference fostered by religion. The 'political' struggle in NI, for example - if all of NI was one religion or the other, the 'politics' would not have arisen.

What does it say about these religions anyway if 'political' differences can be so easily be given a religious camoflage? - either they are quite able to cope with the idea of smiting the infidel ('The Quran or the sword!/ Onward Christian soldiers!/ Israel for God's chosen people!)or else we can ditch them anyway as few people apparently believe their surface love'npeace hypocracy enough to resist the temptation to accept their appropriation by 'political' motives.