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I was a practicing Lutheran for the first 20 years of my life. I was raised as a kid to attend church every week, sunday school, a week or two of christian summer school a year, catechism classes, etc. I believe in god. I don't attend church anymore. I do not need to attend a church to fulfill any religious obligations or to further my knowledge on christianity. Many church sermons started becoming very similar to me over the years, preaching only the good parts of the bible to promote a better way of living. And that was fine but theres a large majority of churches that do a different way of preaching. Churches are exempt from taxes as they are religious organizations, however, if a church preaches any political views they no longer have a tax exemption. Many huge churches do not have tax exemptions and they preach their political views into their sermons. These churches like to preach some of the darker parts of the bible to reinforce their own political views through fear and with religious guidance as to how they can change their community or nation through their religious actions and votes. This is not fine. These churches acquire huge fan bases of people that want to take their religion and force their views onto others through political votes, political sponsorships of candidates, etc. The United States is supposed to have 'separation of church and state'. But this is not the case. Far too many political figures state their own personal religious beliefs to justify their positions on subjects or when casting different votes. To me that is outrageous and the epitome of someone forcing their religion down my throat. It also sets a horrible precedent. What if someday christianity is no longer the majority religion in the United States? What if islam becomes a majority and their religious views are implemented into our government? What if the president doesn't say "God be with us all" and instead references Allah? Wouldn't the now minority of christians in america get pissed off? Before any of this happens, the US should follow its own constitution and separate religion from government. But until that happens, christianity is getting a bad rap because its seen as the religious domination of our government. And if a religion is dominating a government, then that is a form of oppression.