Religion and Politics in America - Essay Example

Religion and Politics in America Rel 321, Joel Gereboff ________________________________ Intro Religion in the US, as in many other nation states of the world, is constitutionally separated from state apparatus yet keeps on casting its many shades and hues on the public sphere as well as on the judiciary and the executive. This is so because religion has deep roots in culture and precedes all democratic modern institutions. ON the other hand, the necessity of taking the influence of religion off the state came out of the need to ensure equality and justice to all irrespective of their faiths and beliefs. This paper examines this topic basically from these premises. This is an attempt to find out how effectively the US constitutional doctrine of keeping the public sphere and state apparatus out of the influence of a particular (often dominant) religion has succeeded. It is argued that the public sphere, state and judiciary in the US have only partially succeeded in keeping dominant religion at an arm’s length. This paper is specifically about the institutional biases that exist in the society in favor of dominant religion even as constitutionally, equality and separation of religion from the state is guaranteed. Review of Literature The separation of church and state has been a subject of interest for many social observers and authors. Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2014) have given a nearly comprehensive account of this conflict in their book titled, Religion and Politics in the United States. The book in its first chapter itself, has articulated that “religion remains an important political factor in the United States” (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014, p.1). Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2014) further in chapter 4 of their book have given a nuanced account of how tricky the business of dealing with religion can be for state. The different ways of defining the possible conflict areas between church and state, namely, the “”boundary” problem”, “”the wall of separation” between church and state” and “the “free exercise” controversy” (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014) point towards the grey areas that exist. By citing examples and history of the United States of America as coming of age as an organized state, Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2014) in this chapter have revealed how the growing democratic and equality based principles of state molded the secular nature of the same. They (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014) also have demonstrated how state as a political entity needed to distance itself from religion so that a coherent nation could come to being. What Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2014) have concluded in this chapter is that it was the “Founders’ enlightenment perspective” that made possible a state separate from religion and thereby formulated “the constitutional framework governing church-state relations.” They (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014) have also pointed out how the “free churches” themselves supported this cause in their opposition to established and dominant churches. The most positive outcome of this bold step has been delineated as a diverse society that came into existence and a constitution that upheld individual religious freedom but banned promotion of religion by state. Church and State Today- Case Studies By looking at two recent court cases related to this topic, this paper will show how the dominant religion gains an upper hand both in legal battles as well as in public discourses. The first case is a law suit against teaching Yoga in Encinitas Union District School where though the court ruled in favor of continuing Yoga education, about 40-45 parents took their children out of this school citing Yoga lessons as a reason (Graham, 2013; Warth, 2013). In the second case, the question was whether New York town’s council meetings can start with a prayer and the court concerned ruled yes (Mears, 2014). In the first case, it is the minority religion involved and only the judge and not many from the public (parents, a law firm, an academic) supported it (Graham, 2013; Warth, 2013). Also the basic terminology used in Yoga had to be changed in order to prove that Yoga was secular (Graham, 2013; Warth, 2013). But Yoga has been defined by its most serious proponents like B.S. Iyengar and Sri Sri Ravi Sanker of India, where it originated as something that unites body and mind and helps keep in good health of both body and mind (“Iyengar Yoga Resources”, n.d.; “Bringing Happiness”, n.d.). Also, the health benefits of Yoga is now a scientifically proven fact beyond doubt. The question that arises here is if a Catholic religious practice like a prayer at the beginning of a gathering could have raised so much eye brows as happened in this case. The answer to this question can be found in the second court case cited (Mears, 2014). In this case, not only the court said New York town’s council meetings can start with a prayer and it is reported (Mears, 2014), just before the judgment was pronounced, the court session itself began with the rendering of the traditional prayer, “God save the United States and this honorable court” which indicated an intrinsically built in bias. Again, The New York town government stated in the court that the feedback it took from various circles on the issue was mostly in favor of retaining the prayer (Mears, 2014). The report by Mears (2014) on this case also has pointed to the fact that the sessions of Congress and State legislature always started with a prayer. 120 members of Congress, 18 state attorneys general, and Obama administration also backed the prayers (Mears, 2014). Here it is revealed that as Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2014) pointed out, when it comes to minority religion, separatism holds sway and when it comes to dominant religion, accommodationism is the most prevalent practice. Banning polygamy in Utah Territory and allowing Catholic schools to function in Oregon, are some early examples of action by state and judiciary to cite, on where to draw the line (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014). The two variant positions that gained support after a secular state was established were, separationism and accommodationism (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014). While separationism (1940s to 1970s) advocated denial of benefits to religious organizations and all the same provide maximum level of freedom to individuals, accommodationism (1970s afterwards) did the reverse (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014). Chapter 7 of the book by Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2014) has dealt with the debates going on in the public sphere on the topic of interactions between religion and state. Wald and Calhoun-Brown (2014) have observed that the percentages of people who stick to one opinion or the opposite are almost the same. Here, the changes in this front have been depicted as also as an offshoot of economic liberalism that calls for less state intervention, moral and cultural dilemmas that at times pressurize the society to dig back to find traditional roots and thereby provide for a come-back of conservatism, and gender issues that compelled the society to rethink certain disparities enforced by religion and faith (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014). From this perspective also, the beneficiary is the dominant religion. Methodology Even the book, Religion and politics in the United States, while trying to examine the topic of religion and secular state from different perspectives representing different stakeholders, has not given sufficient space for religious minorities (Wald and Calhoun-Brown, 2014). Only two brief chapters are set aside to discuss their perspectives. The methodology adopted in this book is mainly qualitative analysis of case studies and major public discourses involved. The book has also a historical thread of narration that located the analysis in the evolution of public notions and legal positions on the topic. All the same, for the question to what extent the church is separated from state in the US, there should be more specific quantitative studies to support the arguments of this book. Conclusion To conclude, the actions of the executive, judiciary and the debates in public spheres in the US have a bias towards the dominant religion. They are mostly accommodationist towards dominat religion and less inclined so towards minority religions. , When it comes to new social trends like economic liberalism, the wish to return to traditional modes of life, the dominant religion enjoys better attention and protection from state, given the political power that its majority status imparts to it. References Bringing happiness and making life a celebration. N.d., Retrieved from http://www.artofliving.org/in-en Graham, M. (2013 July 1). Yoga in school not same as teaching religion, California judge rules. Reuters, Retrieved from www.reuters.com Iyengar yoga resources: what is yoga?. N.d., Retrieved from http://www.iyengar-yoga.com/yoga/ Mears, B. (2014 May 5). Justices allow public prayers at New York town’s council meetings. CNN, Retrieved from www.cnn.com Wald, K.D. and Calhoun-Brown, A. (2014). Religion and politics in the United States. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. Warth, G. (2013, October 30). Appeal revives school yoga law suite. The San Diego Union-Tribune, retrieved from www.UTSandiego.com Read More