WASHINGTON, October 31 (IslamOnline.net) - Religion has taken a center stage in the US presidential elections with incumbent US President George W. Bush’s frequent use of religious imagery in speeches and Democrat challenger John Kerry’s resort to the Bible in his campaign addresses.

John Green, director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, told IslamOnline.net that religion plays a significant role in American politics.

He noted that the United States has the highest church attendance compared to other industrialized countries such as Britain and Canada.

A number of US religious groups’ leaders told a press conference Friday, October 29, that religion will play an unprecedented role in the 2004 elections.

Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, said the role of religion has become a strategic tool in the November presidential race.

Some 80% of the 294 million population in the United States embrace Christianity.

To win the knife-edge race, the two rivals are vying to show to the American people, many of whom have firm religious convictions, their religious commitment.

"Religion has been a huge part of my life. It helped lead me through a war, leads me today," said Kerry.

He was due to attend later on Sunday, October 31, a Baptist Church in Ohio as part of his efforts to court the crucial votes of African Americans.

On Sunday, October 24, Kerry dismissed Bush’s social, economic and health policies as being immoral and unethical.

Quoting from the Bible, Kerry said his faith had taught him "'whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.'"

"This means we have a moral obligation to one another, to the forgotten, and to those who live in the shadows," he said in a Fort Lauderdale church.

"This is a moral obligation at the heart of all our great religious traditions. It is also the vision of America ... the ethical test of a good society is how it treats its most vulnerable members."

"I believe we must keep faith, not only with our Creator but also with present and future generations," said Kerry.

He also lashed out at Bush for letting his firm religious convictions seep too deeply into policy in a way that weakened the sacred separation of church and state in US politics.

"My task, as I see it ... is not to write every doctrine into law. That is not possible or right in a pluralistic society. But my faith does give me values to live by and apply to the decisions I make."

Kerry’s religion-based speeches promoted one archbishop to describe him as "Prophet Moses" who comes to save the African Americans from slavery.

Bush boasts himself on being a born-again Christian

The born-again Methodist Bush has also been also playing the same tune.

He has sent senior aides to the US southern states, known for their religious attitudes, to drum up their support for his re-election.

Bush is seen as enjoying a perceived edge among American worshipers, reflected in his frequent use of religious imagery in speeches, his definition of his anti-terror campaign as a battle of good against evil, and support for faith-based social groups.

Protestant evangelicals, making up a quarter of US voters, strongly support Bush, according to TV estimates.

Bush often mentions God and faith in his addresses.

In the last presidential debate, Bush said he acts with divine guidance.

"Prayer and religion sustain me."

He also sent aides to churches to stress that the separation between state and religion is an unrealistic.

Banners such as "God wants Bush" are usually carried by Bush’s supporters in campaign marches.

On the US markets, video tapes and DVDs tell story of how Bush abandon alcohol at the age of 40 and rediscover his Christian faith.

During his first term in office, Bush granted federal funds to many US hardline religious organizations, including the group of televangelist Pat Robertson  who repeatedly gave anti-Islam remarks and insulted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).