<human>: As a Englishman I've been trying to follow the bemusing spectacle of US politics in the run up to the election this year and following the voting on the republican candidate I was struck with how much religion was brought up and the ridiculous views they held. I.e. Rick Santorum a catholic who wanted (un)Intelligent design recognised as a competing scientific theory to evolution, rejection of climate change, opinions on homosexuality etc and Mitt Romney a fucking mormon (the religion where a man translated the book of mormon from golden plates that no one was allowed to see) who is a pro lifer, opposition of same sex marriages, opposition to funding stem cell research etc.

How can these people be serious? they are meant to represent the public yet they hold such views as this in the 21st century?

Maybe its the perspective I have being from England where politics is about where someone is going not where they are from and religion doesn't ever factor into it. Views about climate change scepticism, anti abortion, anti homosexuality just are not held here by politicians except maybe the BNP. For instance our deputy prime minister is an atheist and so are a lot of politicians but even then the ones who state they have a religion generally don't mention it, i.e. it is not important.

Can you summarize the given text in a few sentences?
<bot>: US politics is a quagmire of religion and views that are not commonly held in UK politics, essentially why is the case in America?