Is religion antithetical to democracy [formerly: Are Islam and Democracy Incompatible?]

I rarely sign on to this (alt.philosophy) newsgroup.  Thus, please excuse me if
this post is out of line.
On Thursday, 11/20/03, a letter to the editor in the Washington Post has, as its
second sentence, the following: "Religion is antithetical to democracy."  That
day, it so happens that, at the Library of Congress (where I go about once a
week to do research), there was a panel discussion, by four presidential
biographers (Adam, Jefferson, Lincoln, Ford) on their respective subjects.  I
almost attempted to ask a question, but restrained myself -- the question would
be "Is religion antithetical to democracy?  Does the fact that many "founding
fathers" were deists (Washington, Jefferson, Franklin) have anything to do with
a lack of mention of Christianity as USA's state religion?"  From reading this
thread, SDR gave an excellent account; jimmy's post prompts me to submit the
above. Any comments?  David Li