The blending of religion and politics is back in the headlines. Again. And the latest examples make it clear that combining these two isn’t inherently good or inherently bad. It all depends on how it’s done. And even more importantly, why it’s done. The extremes on this subject can be found in two recent stories: the protests being led by Buddhist monks in Myanmar, and John McCain’s increasingly absurd pandering to the religious right. The monks are using religion to unite and inspire people against a brutal regime; McCain is using it to divide people for transient political gain.
October 2, 2007 4:41 AM