> > getting involved in politics to help smooth the path towards that eventual Theocracy is therefore an acceptable, and even saintly action. Salvation and Grace alone comes as a free gift from God; and fortunately by the fruits that He produces in us, the world may know that a Christian belongs to God and is not being deceived by the other.
> >
> > Just one problem. The concept of "Separation of Church and State" is popularly misinterpreted to mean "Religion has no place in politics." Here is a stumbling block against the Theocracy of God's Kingdom and his love made manifest on earth. So, should we not consider this entire belief that "Faith has no place in government" to be sin?
>
> Of course religion has a place in politics! All your decisions on what to do in different cases should be based on (the ethics of) your beliefs, or else you would be denying the God you believe in. And denying your God would be a sin, wouldn't it?
>

On the human scale, the politics and maneuverings involved in Getting Elected tend to exclude candidates who proclaim particularly strong beliefs about God. Many candidates who have moderate personal convictions cannot present them on their campaign platforms, because voters might be apt to view them as representing a narrow-minded, bigoted, intolerant brand of ultra-fanaticism that leads to totalitarianism. Bottom line: people don't want their comfy lifestyle to be rubbed into their faces as false, nor do they like being told that they might be in need of accepting salvation.


> "Sepatation of Church and State", in my book, means "Politics has no place in religion". Here in Norway, the minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs is the one who appoints deans and bishops. And presently, this minister isn't even a Christian!
>
> Trav"yes, I am pro separation"holt.

Hm. That's a particularly odd arrangement. Do the various Norwegian church denominations give the Minister a short-list of "acceptable bishops" from which he can choose his appointments; or does the decision rest solely with him, a non-Christian? Strange.

Incidentally, in the U.S. the catchphrase "Separation of Church and State" is a formula/summary of the intent of the U.S. First Amendment. The latter begins, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In other words, "Separation of Church and State" simply meant a guarantee of "Freedom of individual expression of religion, independent of imposed coercion from the State." But many people gradually interpreted it to mean that not only should faith and governance have nothing to do with each another, but that the two are actively opposed forces.

Wolfspirit