Top five, quote of the day, and commentary will return next week. We're taking U.S. Labor Day off, so no fresh postings of any sort on the Christianity Today site until Tuesday. Enjoy your weekend.

Politics:

1. Religion in public life: Americans yearn for a middle way | Concerned about the moral state of their country, many Americans have long said they desire more religious influence in public life. They still feel that way, but they're also growing wary about the forms it is taking (The Christian Science Monitor)
   
   
2. Holy Land churches attack Christian Zionism | The Vatican's envoy in the Holy Land and bishops from three other churches have launched a rare joint attack on the Christian Zionist movement, accusing it of promoting "racial exclusivity and perpetual war" (Reuters)
   
   
3. Also: Religious leaders' statement on Christian Zionism | "We Stand for Justice. We Can Do No Other" (Zenit)
   
   
4. In latest push, Bush cites risk in quitting Iraq | President Bush cast the struggle against Islamic extremists as the successor to the battles against Nazism and Communism (The New York Times)
   
   
5. Not God's party | A new poll shows Democrats are losing (more) religious voters (Amy Sullivan, Slate)
   
   
6. Republicans target 'Islamic fascism' | Fascism seems to be the new buzz word for Republicans in an election season dominated by an unpopular war in Iraq (Associated Press)
   
   
7. Churches reach out to mayoral candidates | Faith groups seek to regain clout (The Washington Post)
   
   
8. Poll: Crist, Gallagher splitting 'born-again' vote | Tom Gallagher had been counting on support from conservative Christians (The Orlando Sentinel)
   
   
9. State race turns nasty in final lap | Sen. Jim King and challenger Randall Terry both file complaints (The Orlando Sentinel)
   
   
10. Religious voters could doom the Democrats | The good folks who make up the religious right may not love the Republican party, but they know a threat when they see one. The modern Democratic party is hostile to their very existence (Patrick Hynes and Jeremy Lott, Financial Times)