On Religion and Politics

Claudia Winkler has a wonderful piece on the role of religion in politics. She points out that the hysterics out there worrying about "Jesusland" haven't been paying much attention to American history. The passage she quotes from Lincoln's letter to Eliza Gurney is well worth revisiting:

The purposes of the Almighty are perfect, and must prevail, though we erring mortals may fail to accurately perceive them in advance. We hoped for a happy termination of this terrible war long before this; but God knows best, and has ruled otherwise. We shall yet acknowledge his wisdom, and our own error therein. Meanwhile we must work earnestly in the best lights he gives us, trusting that so working still conduces to the great ends he ordains. Surely he intends some great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make, and no mortal could stay.