Politics: The New Religion?

I've been reading blog posts about how fanatical some Barack Obama supporters are.
They've been compared to religious fanatics. Here and here are two blog posts on
this particular topic (side note: I couldn't link to the original ABC News blog post
because the page crashes on me). One of my favorite bloggers even calls him "liberal
Jesus." The MSM is noticing also. Here's a blurb from a Time piece:

And yet there was something just a wee bit creepy about the mass
messianism — "We are the ones we've been waiting for" — of the
Super Tuesday speech and the recent turn of the Obama campaign.
"This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency
of the United States of America is different. It's different not because
of me. It's different because of you." That is not just maddeningly vague
but also disingenuous: the campaign is entirely about Obama and his
ability to inspire. Rather than focusing on any specific issue or cause
— other than an amorphous desire for change — the message is becoming
dangerously self-referential. The Obama campaign all too often is about
how wonderful the Obama campaign is.

I have also have also noted my concerns of how he uses religious rhetoric. For
example, when he said, "I am confident that we can create a Kingdom right here
on Earth."

I Publius of Obsidian Wings makes an interesting point:

Here then is where Obama comes in. Obama seems to be filling
a spiritual void that many modern secular progressives (like all
humans) tend to develop. Whether the enthusiasm stems from
youth’s susceptibility to romantic idealism, or instead from the
longing caused by the slow lonely grind of professional life, something
is causing these people to see in Obama something more than politics.
They’re seeing – and feeling – something higher.

Religion or spirituality is increasingly becoming less part of American society.
Perhaps, religious fervor is being replaced by the political fervor. The younger
generation is looking for someone to save them. Save them from what? I'm not
sure they know themselves what they need being saved from. They think if
government changes we can experience peace, prosperity, and add some free
health care and some college education to that and we will be healed. I think
Sen. Obama appeals to our want for peace and prosperity and after all the
turmoil we've experienced the past seven years; who can blame the American
people?

The sad thing is that our government can't bring us peace, prosperity and there
is no such thing as free health care. Even if we get out of Iraq and Afghanistan
(which I do hope we will do as soon as it's feasibly possible) that does not assure
us peace. Unfortunately, acts of terrorism will continue to occur with or without
President George Bush in the White House. Fortunately, we will also have periods
of peace, we all desire to have those times again. Also, I believe our government
has no influence whatsoever with one's personal prosperity. However, the United
States government does have control over how they will tax the money American
citizens do make.

You see there is something that God can provide that no politician or government can
ever give. Jesus grants peace in our hearts in John 16:33:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."