>[snip]
>>Once you start pushing people more and more into a state religion, you get closer and closer to a theocracy. I came from a Catholic country. Although a very open society it still irked me that non-Catholics are restricted in some civic actions and posts. For example to be president (in many countries in South America), you have to be Catholic. It says so in their Constitution.
>
>That triggers me: Although it's not in the constitution of the U.S., the reality is that it is currently (currently?) impossible to become president of the States without at least expressing a deep religeous attitude and willingness to thank God in public on many occasions. This is a huge problem for the States, 1) because it works as a preselection mechanism that actually shuts out a lot of talented candidates, and 2) because certain people in foreign countries have an argument if they object to the 'God is on our side' claim.

That's a fairly recent development, though. I think it'll change back eventually to where a candidate's religious behavior is not terribly relevant.

Tamar