Mustafa Akyol in Islam without Extremism wrote that when politics interfered with Islam then Islam became narrow and restrictive. When politics let Islamic scholars have more open discussions, then Islam, culture, and commerce flourished.
In the United States we have restrictive religions corrupting politics, and many believe that if they get their way, the U.S. will be a less pleasant place to live for those who don’t hold to these restrictive religions.
For the latter, see How to Be Secular: A Call to Arms for Religious Freedom, by Jacques Berlinerblau. He doesn't call for no religion, but asks that people be tolerant of other religions and wary of religions that want their way for everybody.
For the latter, see How to Be Secular: A Call to Arms for Religious Freedom, by Jacques Berlinerblau.
