By Joel K. Goldstein<\/p>\n
The presidential campaign season has certainly begun, the playoffs, if not yet the World Series, of American politics, and that reality brings with it the perennially vexing issues of\u00a0the relationship between religion and politics.\u00a0 I say \u201cperennially\u201d because the problem has long roots in American history.\u00a0 It is \u201cvexing\u201d because some of the questions juxtapose important principles and do not lend themselves to simple solutions.\u00a0 I say \u201cissues\u201d because the relation between religion and politics raises multiple questions.\u00a0 First, there is the issue of the extent to which a candidate\u2019s religious affiliation should be a factor in his or her candidacy, an issue which itself arises in multiple ways.\u00a0 Second, there is the issue regarding the extent to which religious teachings and beliefs can properly influence political discourse.\u00a0 Third, there is the use of religious issues as wedge issues.\u00a0 Finally, there is the issue of the extent to which it is helpful for Jews or another religious group to associate or appear to be identified with one party or the other or to be viewed as a voting bloc.\u00a0 All of these issues have arisen or will arise during the next 356 days.\u00a0 This morning I want to make some preliminary comments about the first two issues\u2014the relevance of a candidate\u2019s religious affiliation and the role of religious teachings in public discourse.<\/span><\/p>\n