Women like men have been regarded as saints and sinners in the world's religions. Many have found meaning and guidance, enjoyed rich spiritual lives and reputations for religious scholarship and sanctity. However, unlike men, women have also been the victims of religious traditions delineated in patriarchal societies.

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While the atrocities and acts of terrorism committed by violent extremists have connected Islam with terrorism, the Islamic tradition places limits on the use of violence and rejects terrorism, hijackings, and hostage taking. As with other faiths, mainstream and normative doctrines and laws are ignored, distorted, or hijacked and misinterpreted by a radical fringe. Islamic law, drawing on the Quran, sets out clear guidelines for the conduct of war and rejects acts of terrorism.

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I do not think a candidate's religion should be an issue. We are a secular country in which followers of all faiths and of no faith have rights as well as duties. All citizens should have access to the presidency. However, I would oppose the specific theological orientation of a candidate of any faith who subscribed to a militant or exclusive theology like a Pat Robertson. His militant theological stance has led to his call for domestic as well as foreign policy initiatives which are dangerous or at the very least would compromise the civil liberties of others. Regrettably, I think Mr. McCain's statement is simply that of a desperate candidate.

Romney did a credible job in a difficult situation. While his statement went a long way towards satisfying the concerns of some Christians, his failure to deal more explicitly with his Mormon faith may still not address the concerns of many Americans who, wrongly in my view, see Mormonism as a non-Christian religion or as a religious cult.

Two of his statements were particularly significant. He reminded Americans of a central principle that remains especially important in our multi-religious and irreligious society: "A person should not be elected because of his faith, nor should he be rejected because of his faith." Equally important, he emphasized that Americans should focus on their shared moral values rather than the denominational differences that sometimes divide the country.

However, his more specific comment, that does indeed follow from this principle, might seem to many the calculated product of a presidential candidate in a 2008 race in which so many candidates have felt the need to tell us about their faith commitment: "And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims."

Huckabee's suggestion is untenable. Who will determine God's standards? What are the sources for these standards.?If he is thinking of Christian standards, which Christian denomination or leader will define these standards.

More importantly, the situation is further complicated by the fact that today we are a nation of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs ....!

Most importantly, America's separation of church and state was to assure that no specific religious denomination be given special preference and that both belief and unbelief have equal protection and space.

The presidential campaign this year, as it did four years ago, has become too focused on the religious beliefs of candidates. While religious beliefs should be respected, they should not become core issues as they have for increasing numbers of Americans, most visible among the supporters of Huckabee and Romney.

I would word our situation today less as secularism becoming a taboo subject and more that religion, in the eyes of candidates and the media, has become an important, high-profile political issue that runs the risk of compromising our secular tradition.

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Let me begin by saying that think it is unfortunate that a candidate's religion, belief and practice have become campaign issues. Watching reporters press candidates not only on what they believe but whether and how often they pray or on the religious beliefs of another candidate seems contrary to the separation of church and state and our political traditions. It is especially ironic given the concerns in the past regarding Catholic candidates (Al Smith and later John Kennedy) and today regarding Muslim candidates). The focus of presidential politics should remain political, economic and social issues. Those for whom religious values are paramount can still bring their beliefs or moral conscience to bear by privately judging a candidate's positions in light of their faith and beliefs.

All the current candidates have taken care to mention their faith and values and reach out to conservative or religious right voters for whom religion affects or informs their vote. While all have courted this constituency, Huckabee has done it the most aggressively and it has paid off in many of the states he has done well in.