Religion indispensable, but not in political life

4 Feb 2011

Mike Huckabee, the conservative former Arkansas governor, this weekend said that he is concerned about Islam's role in Egypt's future. As On Faith panelist Reza Aslan this week noted, Huckabee has also called for Americans to "take this nation back for Christ" and, while running for president in 2008, declared that "what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards."

In America and in Egypt, should a majority religion inspire political life? How will Islam play a role in the struggles for democracy happening now in Egypt and other parts of the Muslim world?

Religion is an integral part of society and is indispensable. However, will adopting a majority religion do the state any good? This is a very big question. Should we go back to the medieval times when religious heads in parallel ran de-facto governments as it was seen in Iran? So far there has not been any successful model where religious heads ran a government and supported democracy. The theocratic state in the past has only caused more violence and unrest in the society. It is high time we move from religious fundamentalism to an all-inclusive, non -denominational spirituality.Readmore