Undue religious influence on secular life

Religious influence on society, in politics or on the law, may lead to conflict, discrimination, war, lack of development or anticlericalism. Religious influence may be subtle or overt; it is strongest and most widespread in its indirect form.

Religious belief may be contrary to certain political movements and retard their development. The church may be directly or semi-directly involved as a motivating force for nationalism or other political movements, or religious principles may be involved as in the instigation of Christian Democratic parties. This may lead to conflicts of various kinds and even to war. It may also lead to anti-clericalism or religious apathy.

Religious involvement in politics as a motivating force for nationalism is notable in Africa. Christian Democratic parties exist in western Europe and Latin America. Socialism is contrary to the teaching of Islam.

Despite the fact that school-sponsored prayers at public school graduations were ruled as unconstitutional in 1992, in 1993 the American Center for Law and Justice wrote to all 15,0000 school districts to give official sanction to the practice.