In the US, religion is mixed with politics--and it looks like it's gonna stay that way for a while. Unfortunately.

WSJ today 28 Oct 2006:

"The turnout machine that has pulled evangelical conservatives to the polls in massive numbers is churning away, and for a reason little appreciated outside their circles: the sense that voting is their Christian duty."

Of course that's fine--but of course there's also this.

"And because such voters' litmus test issues are abortion and gay marriage, that typically means vote Republican."