Religion and Politics

1. Religion and Politics Dr. Troy Gibson

2. Course Introduction • Why study religion and politics? • Relevance to Political History (Western Civilization) • Relevance to American History • Relevance to Political Philosophy • Relevance to Political Debate • Relevance to Political Outcomes (parties, policy, voting, elections, groups, etc.) *We may argue that religion ought not be relevant, but only the blind would say that it isnot relevant. • How will we study R&P? Where do we limit the study? Course will focus mostly on orthodox Protestant tradition, some on Roman Catholicism, and others will receive modest attention. Basis for this limitation: (1) Time constraints (2) Relevance/Influence in U.S. Political History (3) Size/Growth (4) Clarity of perspectives (5) Personal Knowledge

3. II. Religious Tradition in America • Puritans 1. Definition: group of former Protestants immigrants who came to America fleeing religious repression in Europe. 2. Puritan theology (17th-18th centuries) – stresses the sovereignty of God over the affairs of man (Calvinism) and Covenant theology (the choice of God select or “elect” a people unto Himself and give them His favor in exchange for their obedience to the terms of the covenant or agreement. In practice, Puritans stress Holy living and a purified society. 3. Puritan legacy – Originally believed that America was the “New Israel” or “promise land” or a “city upon a hill” where God’s covenant people would thrive. They have left America with an enduring legacy, though some of their thinking is now considered extreme or outdated (theocratic tendencies, witch-hunting). They not only gave us or contributed to our stress on the importance of religion in society for sake of morality, but also limited government (no divine right), self-government (autonomy of church gov’t), and attitude that America is a special place with a special God-ordained mission in this the world.

4. Pluralism – though Puritans dominated early on, religious diversity has been a mark of American society from the start. Dissidents of all kinds left Europe for the New World (Puritans, Baptists, Anglicans, Quakers, Jews) and new groups developed rapidly (Methodists). • Aided by diversity among colonies and Great Awakening (mid-18th). Let to no establishment of religion in the Constitution (relatively novel idea). By early 19th century, no state established an official church either. • Pluralism has been respected more for Christian diversity than for groups perceived as non-Christian by Protestants (Mormons, Catholics, Jews, Atheists). C. Populism has always been the fuel of religious success in America (bottom-up rather than top-down; evangelizing the lower classes)

5. III. Religious Groupings based on affiliation surveys • Evangelical Protestants (26.3%) – trace their heritage to the Protestant Reformation; stress the absolute, reliable, and sufficient authority of the Bible in all matters of faith; distinguishing doctrines (5 solas; sola scriptura; sola fide; sola gratia; sola deo gloria; sola christus); typically stress the exclusive truth of Christianity and need for conversion. E.g. Southern Baptists, Presbyterian Church of America, Assemblies of God. • Mainline Protestants (16) – same heritage, but have departed from the traditional doctrines (especially sola scriptura) from the Reformation in light of modernity and scientific theories Darwin (indeed, no unifying system of doctrine). E.g. United Methodists, PCUSA, United Church of Christ. Less likely to accept a literal Hell or need for conversion. More likely to stress social justice. • Roman Catholics (17.5) – considers itself to be the original and one true church of Christ through apostolic succession from Peter and the apostles. Distinguishing doctrines: Supremacy, necessity, and infallibility of the church, headed by the Pope or Bishop of Rome in all matters of faith.

6. 4. Latino Catholics (4.5) – most latinos have remained Catholic 5. Latino Protestants (2.8) – growth, however, has come from the charasmatic movement 6. Black Protestant (9.6) 7. Other Christian Faiths (2.7) 8. Jewish (1.9) 9. Other faiths (2.7) • Muslims (.02) 10 Unaffiliated (16) • Secular (7.5) – free from” religion” and stress belief in the powers of human reason over faith in the discovery of truth (secular humanism). • Atheist, Agnostic (3.2) – considers the evidence for God’s existence to be unpersuasive (they may then disbelieve or leave it at that). • Unaffiliated Believers (5.3) *Comments (80% Christian, 55% Protestant, 22% RC, 84% affiliated, 90-5% theistic) • Key Concepts:

7. What is religion – “A religion is an integrated system of beliefs, lifestyles, ritual activities, and institutions by which people give meaning to or find meaning in their lives by orienting themselves to what they take to be holy, sacred, or of ultimate value.” But, can we properly define religion by looking at what is common among religions? Is that not circular? Does this not require that we know what religion is BEFORE we define it? “Suppose the problem were to find the common element in all snarks in order to form a definition of snark in general. The empirical method would require an examination of snarks; but this examination could proceed only if it were first known what a snark was. If the Bellman or the Barrister could recognize a Snark when he saw one, he might seek it with thimbles and care, and upon examination determine whether the characteristics of Boojums are essential to all Snarks. But an ordinary mortal would not know enough to use a thimble, and with all his care would not know a snark if he met one. That is, the empirical examination can take place only after the definition is accepted.” - Gordon Clark

8. How encompassing is this definition? Does it exclude purely individualistic religions with no institutions? Does it require belief in a god? What about animism? Does it exclude atheism or secularism? What if we replaced and with or? In a word, Religion is a worldview, or a comprehensive system of beliefs pertaining to matters of existence and being, ethics and morality, knowledge and truth. • What is politics? Political Scientists have used various emphases when defining politics. Some stress the workings of government; some stress human relationships involving power; others stress the allocation of values. For us, politics is the authoritative allocation of values in a society (values = beliefs about what is “best” or “right”). The fact that people have different values causes political conflict with varying degrees of intensity. However, sometimes even agreement among values does not eliminate political conflict. • People may agree on a value, but disagree over how to achieve it. • People may agree on a value, but not its relative weight (priority).

9. In order to avoid extreme political conflict (civil war or civil unrest), when values are allocated, the allocating body (government) must be considered legitimate and some degree of cooperation is necessary. C. Other Terms (see handout): • Poles of Religion and Politics Relationship • Theocracy – gov’t by divine rule, though mediated through human rulers who receive direct guidance from God (boundaries of religion and government power are the same). Example: OT Israel and modern day Vatican City. • Government Suppression of Religion – political state is totalitarian; claims total dominion over its subjects; state basically becomes the object of religious worship and actively fights against any other religious competitor. Example: Soviet Russia and Stalin and Maoist China 1966 • In the U.S., one of the views expressed on page 13 (Corbett) has been advocated (all of which represent an approach in between these two poles). • Dominance – let the state basically dominate (influence) the church or let the church basically dominate the state, though they remain distinct jurisdictionally. • Establishment – arrangement in which civil gov’t supports R.

10. Prescriptive – residents MUST support the favored religion (taxation, church attendance, etc.) • Permissive – allows for the dominance of a particular religion, by allowing its holy days and festivals to be acknowledged formally (celebrated in public schools, for example). • May be either tolerant or intolerant of other faiths (e.g., one receives tax support while others, whether free to operate or not, do not). • May be exclusive, dual, or multiple establishments • May be general or specific – Religion vs one denomination. Christianity or only Anglican, for example 3. Separation – church activities and state activities having nothing whatever to do with one another.