Well said Anthony !
the rather 'silly' view (and I really mean that) that some seem to hold (like Kenny) is that its only we 'godbotherers' have 'values and morals which we want to impose on others' when the reality is that EVERYone has their own, and they bring them to the party. Further, whatever people bring to the democratic arena, it is totally unavoidable that SOMEone or other, or some group will feel irritated, annoyed or marginalized. The tendency I note is that we (Chrsitians) tend to want 'less' freedom in some areas, (Abortion, seuxal permisiveness etc) whereas others want 'more' freedom. But freedom always comes with rules and consequences, however slow they may be in coming. I don't agree with Sells that for Christians to support candidates and policies which promote Christian values is 'theocracy'. Its simply democracy at work.
Funnily enuf, the only 'hate' I sense in all of that debate, seems to come from the 'other' side of the fence. We are firm and resolute in our views, but that doesn't mean we hold those views with any serious ill feeling toward people of opposing views. We just plain disagree.

Boaz, I believe I have asked before, please don't put words into my mouth and then argue agaist them. It is most impolite of you.

"...PERICLES its clear to me, that when the word 'Church' is mentioned, (this is for Kenny also) an image of some large beaurocratic organization seems to come to your minds"

It may be clear to you, but only in your own imagination. There is nothing that I have written here that can be construed in such a way.

My angle, if I can be conveniently pigeonholed, is that I am concerned when individuals can only see a situation, or conduct an argument, or adopt a position, through the distorting lens that is their version of religion. It doesn't matter a tinkers cuss which religion this happens to be - I would be just as frustrated with any other flavour.

David,
If you read the parrables of the kingdom it is obvious that it is not a power in the world as other powers. It is like leaven, when mixed into the dough levens the whole batch etc. It works in secret. When we try to produce Christian political parties we ignore the very essence of the kingdom. That is not to say that we should not vote for people who share our stance, that, as you say is just democracy at work.

I'm quite amazed at the believers in "God"can live in denial of realities that confront them.It seems to be a common human trait.I was taught by priests and a few were pretty screwed up and ended up expelled as mentally disturbed.A lay teacher who taught me 30yrs ago, committed suicide in the 90's, after being accused of molesting young boys.For hundreds, may be thousands of years, the clergy have indulged in institutionalised paediphilia and sex abuse.What sort of God would allow this to happen to innocent people?Are we going to blame this on original sin?The believers in god cling too much to their power source of collective agreement,rather than the realities we face in every day life.

Pericles, you are officially now removed from the 'axis of evil' :)
Sorry if I misrepresented your view. I allowed a cumulative impression to build up over time, but must have experienced a bit of blurring and overlap of your views with those who have a similar 'tone' but who you appear to differentiate yourself from.
Arjay, my sunday school teacher used to go home and beat the daylights out of his wife. The Senior elder of my OWN evangelical church, just after smilingly sending me to Borneo as a missionary with the 'unanimous blessing of the Elders' dumped his wife and took up with another woman. Nice stuff. How easy it would have been for me (alone, broke, in a foreign country) to just spit the dummy and 'blame God'. But then, I have one problem with that, no matter what I see in the lives of others, even those close, I know my Redeemer lives, its a real relationship. As Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna said as he was tied to the stake to be burned, when asked if he would deny Christ "Eighty-six years have I been His servant, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" Whereupon he was burned alive.
I was never molested by any priest, but some priests really concerned me (for their sakes) when I began asking them about Christian things. Arj, to be blunt, a mature and clear thinking person would NEVER hide behind the malpractice of a representative of an idea. If ur serious about seeking truth, look at Jesus, not at priests. To do so is as silly as condeming America just because the local ambassador did something wrong.

SPECIAL FOR SELLS ...Mate, I fully realize the situation of the parables and the kingdom 'growing in secret'. My position is that we are not 'building the kingdom of God' through political means, we are simply building the country we desire 'as Christians' thru democratic means. The kingdom will continue to grow in the hearts and minds of people as God wills.

The kingdom is not growing it's getting smaller and smaller, ;)