Religion is important to a democracy becausereligion is the custodian of moral knowledge.
When we trivialize religionwe really trivialize morality, the idea that the difference between rightand wrong are important. Religion at its best are able to stand as prophetsin society. The great powers of Judeo-Christian tradition is to stay apartfrom the power of the state and identify where society has gone wrong. The Old Testament is the first place where you see a separation betweena sovereign and God. Religions can only do its mission to the extentthat they themselves try to maintain a purity of doctrine.