Republicans show growing enthusiasm for tearing down the wall between church and state

Washington Post | September 22, 2014

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public life just released its semiannual survey of American attitudes on the role of religion in politics. The survey finds a growing appetite for belief in the ballot box, and politics in the pulpit. These shifts are largely happening on the Republican side of the aisle. And among Republicans, the changes are driven by white evangelical concern that the country is becoming less favorable to religion and, inexplicably, more hostile toward white evangelicals.

Below, eight findings from the Pew study that illustrate these shifts.

1. Desire for churches to play an active role in politics is up sharply from 2010
2. A majority of Republicans say politicians aren't talking enough about faith.
3. Seven in 10 Republicans say it's important for a political candidate to have strong religious beliefs
4. Despite large numbers and political clout, a majority of white evangelical Christians feels discriminated against
5. A majority of Americans now say homosexuality is a sin
6. Support for gay marriage is down
7. Seven in 10 white evangelicals want the freedom to discriminate against gay weddings

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/22/republicans-show-growing-enthusiasm-for-tearing-down-the-wall-between-church-and-state/