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Nice catch jag. The combination of church and state is where we get enough concentration of power that conflict can escalate to large scale war. When you get a powerful figure like Ian Paisley (and whoever fits the bill on the other side) in Northern Ireland who combines hate, religion and (British) nationalism you get the worst kind of war, one without an obvious rational way out (not that war is ever really rational). Oddly, for all the religious conflict in Ireland, Irish nationalism originally crossed sectarian lines. Although nominally a religious nation, the US is a long way from a theocracy since we have many sects with competing interests. In the States, religion is one source of political power, Like any other group, say corporations or unions, they are healthier when they keep their distance from the state. Religions when respectful of the rights of others can be good for individuals and society, but are a complete disaster as political master.
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