Having been schooled in the intellectual tradition of the strict separation of church and state, educational researchers have devoted little scholarly attention to how religion affects education. This paper delineates the ways in which religion and politics intersect to shape society, particularly, the impact of the intersection on education. The paper explains why the intellectual wall exists, religion's impact on society, and the relationship between religion and politics. Issues that stem from the intersection of religion, public education, and policy preferences are highlighted. The relationships between religion and political culture and between political culture and educational policy are also summarized. Research in this area is made challenging by the pluralistic nature of religion and the intangible concepts of religion and political culture. (Contains 55 references.) (LMI)