Since the founding of this nation, over 200 years have passed. What the Founders once understood without explanation, we need to reexamine and understand anew. Seemingly, the Founders debated the ideas that formed our government based purely upon the merit of each idea, but did any such thing ever happen? Is the reality that the Founders debated ideas based upon how those ideas furthered their shared Christian values?
Can politics and religion be separated, or can one only create the illusion that religion and politics are separate? If the separation was an illusion, how did this illusion occur?
Early in its history, Northern Europeans with similar Christian traditions almost exclusively populated the United States (At the time, Negro slaves were counted, but not allowed to vote.). Thus the voting populace shared similar religious values. When the People debated politics, what was tacitly understood by all is that the debate took place in the context of a Christian value system. Because all shared largely the same religious values, they did not need to debate religion. Instead, they debated how different political ideas might further common values.
With relatively little experience discussing politics in the context of different religious beliefs, many Americans now find the prospect fearful. Many in fact detest the notion of mixing politics and religion. Some fear mixing politics with religion because they consider religion irrational. Others take the view that politics is a public matter and religion is a purely private matter. Most, I hope, just fear having someone else’s religious beliefs imposed upon them. This fear is real and where the true danger lies.
Nevertheless, without undermining the entire concept of religious freedom, we cannot bar religious discussion from public debate. Throughout history religion and politics have intertwined. To determine what our societal goals should be, we each do in fact advocate causes based upon our personal religious beliefs.
In innumerable ways, religious beliefs guide political beliefs. Based upon divine rights claimed from God, Kings exterminated their opponents and established their rule. On the supposed word of God, Muslims and Christians launched jihads and crusades. In the name of man, atheists tyrannically ruled the proletariat and systematically persecuted any who would partake of “the opiate of the masses”. And in kinder, gentler religious climes, men and women have voted for their leaders and left each other relative peace.
What religion does is define the reason for our existence. What politics does is to provide a framework that allows us to work together to set and achieve societal goals. Our religious beliefs establish our values, and what we value determines how we view politics. If our god is the almighty dollar, then our politics will be seeped in greed. On the other hand, if our God is a loving Creator, then our politics will be driven by our concerns for the rights of our neighbors.
What most separates us from each other is what we choose to believe. We can acknowledge those differences and engage in friendly debate. We can allow for self determination and limit the power of government. Or we can each strive for dominance and destroy all who would deny enforced conformity.
What will we decide? That is a decision citizens make for themselves with each generation. What will this generation decide? That depends upon the nature of the God or thing to which each of us has chosen to give our heart.
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Other Views
At the Virginia Podcasting Network, Attorney General Bob McDonnell discusses the legacy of Jerry Falwell (here).
Waldo Jaquith discusses The Twelve Tribes of American Politics (here).
VB Dems discuss Politics & Religion (here).
750 Volts condemns Virgil Goode for mixing politics and religion (here).
Cato Unbound debates Religion and Politics, Home and Abroad (here).
