Imperfect Separation

Politics all comes down to values.
At the end of the day, Obamacare might cost some money, but it will save lives—which matters more to you? Immigration reform might make some Americans lose their jobs while giving other people a better life—is that a fair trade? More progressive taxes might “punish” success while letting the poor buy food—is that how you define justice? The logic that reaches these choices isn’t cut and dry, but at the end of the day everyone can look at a bill and predict various outcomes; some good, some bad, and a choice that needs to be made.
Our morality defines how we choose what we want, and a big part of that stems from religion. I’m not “religious,” per se—just a typical non-practicing Catholic—but the hours I’ve spent reading the Gospels inform how I view the world.  The preferential option for the poor, “treat others how you want to be treated,” love thy neighbor, and all the other Christian viewpoints are ingrained in me. This isn’t to say that any other religion has it wrong; from karma to the five precepts, each makes equally valid claims—they’re just different.
This is not, of course, to say that religion should be the entire cause of political views. For example, I’m pro-choice. Though my religious upbringing argues against this view, enough other life experiences (and even some Christian morals) have convinced me that I have no right to tell others what they can or can’t do with their bodies. Religion does not wholly define anyone. As President Kennedy said so eloquently, “where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote.” Anyone wishing to live in a nation where the political law equals their religious law should reconsider their mixing of public and private life. Religion ought to be an influence, not an absolute.
Thus, within the realm of politics, I see a middle ground for religion; between the extreme evangelical Jerry Falwell and the strongly secular Bill Maher, religion can help us understand fundamental aspects of our lives. These help define choices we make, and are so foundational to who we are—whether Christian, Jewish, Mulsim, atheist, or otherwise, it’s impossible to separate religion completely from any aspect of life, and politics is no exception.