This means that there must be some correlation between religion and politics. Indeed Keddie (2003) asserts that there is an aversion to the word secular and that most countries that try to embrace this idea are not content. According to Carroll (2003) this inevitable link between religion and politics forces the question of whether or not the world would be better off without religion. The author asserts that misconceptions about religion have caused a great deal of turmoil and war. As such societies around the world might be better off if religion did not exist. However, te author also understands that to "ask such a question from within a religious tradition is like asking, Would the world be better off without desire ? (Carroll, 2003)

Throughout the article Carroll presents a rather dramatic analysis of the manner in which the relationship between religion and politics should be handled in society. The author is honest but sometimes cynical in the manner in which the issue is addressed in the article. He asserts that "in every way that religion can be sacred, it can be trivial; in every way consoling, threatening. A ready source of humility, religion embodies an impulse to triumphalism, too (Carroll, 2003)."

In many ways the author seems to concentrate on the negative issues that can arise because of religion and how these negative attributes of religion tend to effect politics in a manner that is detrimental. This particular article appears to be somewhat biased in its approach...

In doing so the author trivializes the complex relationship between religion and politics.
Conclusion

The purpose of this discussion was to critically assess a popular depiction of the relationship between politics and religion in the contemporary world. The research indicates that even though there has always been some attempt to separate religion and politics in society, the feat, is extremely difficult because of the nature of religion and the attachments that entire societies have to religious traditions. The attachments influence politics and the political decisions that governments make. The research indicates that the link between religion and politics can not be easily separated and that societies must attempt to create a balance between the two so that harmony can exist.

Works Cited

Carroll J. (2003) Why Religion Still Matters Author(s): Source: Daedalus, Vol. 132, No. 3, on Secularism & Religion (Summer, 2003), pp. 9-13

Keddie N.R.(2003) Secularism & Its Discontents. Daedalus, Vol. 132, No. 3, on Secularism & Religion, pp. 14-30

Marty M.E. Our Religio-Secular World. (2003) Daedalus, Vol. 132, No. 3, on Secularism & Religion (Summer, 2003), pp. 42-48

Tosteson D.C. (2003) Unhealthy Beliefs: Religion & the Plague of War Author(s): Daedalus, Vol. 132, No. 3, on…