Intersection of Politics and Religion - Coursework Example

Order 284972 Topic: Politics and Religion: The Results When They Intersect Introduction: The role of religion in politics or put it this way, the role of politics in religion! Endless arguments and counter arguments can follow on this topic, with no concrete answers in sight. Understanding of human beings as for these two issues, have reached abysmal levels. The answer stands engulfed in confusion and misunderstanding. Both areas are dotted with self-interest of the individuals and the concerned sections of the society. The real issue stands submerged and vested interests take control. Unfortunately, major parts of the political and religious activities have become corrupt and money-spinning. Religion and politics in their pure form are the best things that can happen to an individual and the society. Both institutions have been created for the welfare of the mankind. They are bad, as they are practiced today and here lies the problem. The point of intersection of Politics and Religion is often, the point of confrontation between the two forces. Religion always had the dual role to play –to remain socially conscious and also salvation conscious. The religious people are tax-payers as well. This intersection has many blind spots and the obstacles will have to be tackled carefully. Many churches have taken to reformation and rehabilitation programs to supplement their incomes in addition to the donations and grants they receive from public agencies and private individuals and this has been the cause of many problems that are inevitable with money matters. Church and State will be at loggerheads when the State pursues unjust policies and Churches oppose it. African-American Churches have mostly taken a stand for social justice. They can not hope for government grants when they take a contradictory stand. State will try to buy Church’s silence and the church leaders with the principled approach may not oblige the State, at the cost of social justice. Such a possibility was envisaged by the Saints long ago, as we come across mention of these topics in religious scriptures: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finis it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying this man began to build, and was not able to finish.” Luke 14:28-30. (The Certain….) The need to protect the church and other religious institutions from undue governmental influence is in the overall interest of the society. Old Testament and the New Testament often make references-- that God makes it clear that he loathes compromise of making efforts to serve two masters. The unique political tradition can be related to Jewish community, how they remained as an organized group in exile. Politics and religion were one and the same for them and perhaps it is the same even today. The mention of the political acumen of its leaders is made in Genesis. “If all else fails, Jacob is prepared to resist, to fight and flee. He divides his camp into two in the hope that "If Esau comes to one camp and attacks it, the other camp may yet escape (Genesis 32:9)." These are the distinct stratagems that Rashi and Nachmanides recognize in the narrative as appropriate to their own times. As the national name suggests, Israel was neither a passive nor impotent minority. It pursued a calculated policy of political quietism to secure the maximum advantage from their numerical weakness.” (Chancellors ….) Such an identifiable tradition existed in those times and it was fired by religious fervor. The intersection of politics and religion seems to be total when one refers to the Book of Exodus, whose author was Moses. This book was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C. (Exodus 17:14; 24:4-7; 34:27). “The word “exodus” means departure. In Gods timing, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for Abrahams descendants (Genesis 15:13), and the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would not only live in the Promised Land, but would also multiply and become a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3, 7). (Book of Exodus ….)How faithfully the Jews followed the religious injunctions and an independent nation of Jews, Israel, came in to existence on May 14, 1948. Since this age old issue is surrounded by perennial controversy, the perceptions vary from individual to individual. Let us examine the view points of Barack Obama, the President of USA. He has taken the inclusive position and his views are broad-minded and extraordinary. He says, “Given the increasing diversity of America’s population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.” (Barack Obama….) Referring to several sects within the same religion and the touch-me-not attitude of such sects, he advocates the important role of politics to meet the situation. He argues, “Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God’s will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all.”(Barack Obama) The aim of good politics is to understand the common problems and common realities of a nation and the world at large. Politics is persuasion to accept one’s view point with due regard for the submissions of the opposite party. It respects compromise and is the art of the possible. But religion does not provide for compromise. Each religion proclaims that the principles are the revelations of God and hence not negotiable. They must be accepted at any cost and a religious zealot is ever ready for the ultimate commitment-one’s life itself- to defend the principles of the religion practiced. “To base one’s life on such uncompromising commitments may be sublime; to base our policy making one such commitment would be a dangerous thing.”(Barack Obama, 2006) The reality of globalization has added a new dimension to the concept of results when politics and religion intersect. For example, an environmental activity, good or bad going on in a part of the globe, affects the economy and geography and lifestyles in some other part of the world. A time has come when we have to think globally and act locally. In many countries government departments, steeped in corruption are unable to implement the government initiatives and religious institutions are well-positioned to question the pubic policy and implement the projects efficiently. The Government is more than willing. “Faith-based initiatives are increasingly expected to take over government responsibilities. The White House has identified $14.5 billion in federal social programs that currently qualify for faith-based grants.” (Johnson,Jr., 2005) When Churches begin to handle the money of the tax-payers, which normally is handled by the Government, such funds have to be utilized in a time-bound frame. The utilization will be subject to government checks and inspections. Certificates will have to be provided by the church authorities about the proper end-use of the grants. There is bound to be competition amongst the recipients of the grants to attract more funds which means to open more daycare centers, detox centers, community development corporations and old age homes etc. The Churches are likely to lose sight of their historical roles of spreading the religious and moral messages, for the spiritual progress of the individual and to establish the order envisaged as per religious injunctions. When money matters are handled, corruption creeps in. When religious unity is itself a difficult proposition to achieve, religion clubbed together with economic activities (an unavoidable part of politics), has always created issues that has lead to controversies. Rupture between religion and the political order, whose interests are different, is inevitable. The 18th Century political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau responded to this plight by devising a “new” religion—civil religion, in which the State was empowered to impose civic unity. This arrangement does not find acceptance from many Sections of the society. In America, for example, the civil religion supports the most powerful and influential. The members of the marginal community like African Americans, Aboriginal peoples, Hispanics are neglected. The application of civil religion has not been successful in America, and in some areas this experiment has proved to be provocative and has created problems instead of solving them. “The Black church was a leader of the civil rights movement because it questioned the justice of state and national policies. Anti-child labor laws, early in the 20th century, were largely the result of Christian churches advocating for justice.” (Johnson Jr., 2005) These are clear cut instances of politics and religion intersecting. When grave injustices happen in the society, due to the wrong policies pursued by the political party in power, the Church leaders can not sit as mute spectators. The political as well as religious leaders are citizens first. The aggrieved party has the right to ask whether a pubic program is good or bad. If it is good, it is good for whom? If it is bad, it is bad for whom? The results when religion and politics intersect depend upon the issue at hand. When it is a philanthropic program like the rehabilitation of the drug addicts etc. the relations between the two may work well. The politicians are interested in the success of the program for increasing their own popularity and consequently the vote bank. But the clashes occur on moral grounds when the Church takes an unalterable stand on issues like abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, human cloning and the right to die. The Church will not budge from its stand. Those who mobilize for such issues are also not less powerful. “Politics, for better or worse, is all about winning and majority rule. However, the Christian church in America has a far nobler historic mission: To ensure the spread of justice... the spread of inclusiveness... the spread of tolerance... and the spread of love.”(Johnson Jr., 2005) When Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes from the Bible, it is religion. When George Bush quotes from the same Bible, it is politics. “Martin Luther King, Jr. said famously, "We are caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. What affects one directly, affects all indirectly." In other words: in Christ, there is neither black nor white, slave nor free, male nor female, liberal nor conservative, Republican nor Democrat, Arab nor American, gay nor straight, worthy nor unworthy. And no distance is too great to travel to restore community. (Johnson Jr., 2005) Conclusion: Pope John Paul II and his bishops directly attacked and did their best to bring down an inequitable communist regime in Poland. This is one example, how religion tamed politics. Politics and Religion should ideally function like the alternative beats of the same heart. Unfortunately the current trends are not positive. Instead of the recouping the hearts, one sees more and more ‘heart-attacks!’ The role of religion continues to be an important aspect, the inseparable one in pubic life. Contemporary policy issues are regularly addressed in churches in many other houses of worship. Some of the issues currently talked about are, abortion, Iraq situation, homosexuals, environment, the death penalty, stem cell research, immigration, poverty and homelessness. Is this politics and religion or politics of religion? ============== Works Cited: Barack Obama on the role of religion in politics | Dangerous Intersection- Call to Renewal Keynote Address” in Washington, DC on June 28th, 2006. Retrieved on March 30, 2009 Book of Exodus - Bible Survey Can you summarize the Book of Exodus? Retrieved on April 2, 2009 Chancellors Commentary, Parashat Va-yishlah 5755, The Jewish ...Chancellors Parashah Commentary -Retrieved on April 2, 2009 Johnson, Jr., William A: SOCIAL EQUITY, POLITICS, AND RELIGION 20 May 2005 United Church of Christ NY Conference Annual Meeting Keynote Address www.ci.rochester.ny.us/index.cfm?id=709 - 42k – Retrieved on March 30, 2009 The Certain Sound: The Intersection of Politics and Religion The Intersection of Politics and Religion ... Luke 14:28-30. Posted by Revvy Rev at 4:53 PM. Labels: Faith Based Initiative Retrieved on March 30, 2009 Read More