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Religion often is misused for purely power-political goals, including war.

Politicians use religion, and they get their troops riled up with religion.

Patriotism is a kind of religion; it is the egg from which wars are hatched.

Religion, for better or for worse, has been politicized in blatant ways that have seldom been equaled in American elections.

America's state religion, is patriotism, a phenomenon which has convinced many of the citizenry that 'treason' is morally worse than murder or rape.

Patriotism is the religion of hell.

As a politician who cherishes religious conviction in his personal sphere, but regards politics as a domain belonging outside religion, I believe that this view is seriously flawed.

In every society in human history, including the United States, those in power seek to imbue themselves with the attributes of religion and patriotism as a way of getting greater support for their policy and insulating themselves from any criticism.

There's a gullible side to the American people. They can be easily misled. Religion is the best device used to mislead them.

I think it's always dangerous to make political arguments in a religiously ideological way. And it's very dangerous to treat as traitors to the American nation those who think differently.