They really are, especially with Jewish and Christian faith. When ever you hear the word Pharisees or Sudacucee, Think of a religious political party. Often in the bible when you hear about Jesus arguing with a political party member (usually Pharisees, a party many historians believe Jesus may have been a member of) it was usually a debate that covered spiritual and secular topics. This seems to be more prevalent so in Jewish culture than Christian, where the Torah (or law) provides more literal guidelines to live by.