http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1220186502760
In the article, Religion and American Politics by Ira Rifkin, Rifkin supports the need for religious influence in American politics. He understands that there are a large group of people who think that there should be a clear separation between matters of church and matters of state, however he argues that without some source of religious persuasion, one cannot clearly form the beliefs and values that are transferred and portrayed in the political world. Rifkin honors the data that has been collected from national polls that say a majority of Americans believe politics would be more effective if they were completely devoid of faith. In response to this data however, he says that polls are inconclusive because of the “narrow” nature of both the questions and the answers. The overriding claim in the article is the idea that faith is unquestionably necessary when it comes to political policy and actions.
I believe that Rifkin presents a valid argument when he says that religion is inevitably incorporated in American politics. It is a much debated topic, but instead of arguing how a certain religion’s values needs to be considered into political science, Rifkin simply says how faith in general molds everyone’s opinions on all topics. Faith could merely be the morals and values that one has developed through a number of first hand experiences, not something that has been learned from religious doctrine. In this sense, I do believe that faith is an integral part of American politics today. Without it, politicians would not be able to form a valid opinion on any of the topics that they are presented with. Rifkin’s vague classification of one’s faith leaves room for many different interpretations, and therefore presents a stronger argument for its importance in the politics of America.
Rifkin’s theory is also supported in Mark A. Noll’s book, God and Race in American Politics. In the introduction, Noll marks how important “an earnest moral concern for how governments conduct themselves” is and has been in the past. I believe that there is a clear difference between morals and religion. Although Noll may be more supportive of staunch religious principles, rather than simple morality, I think he would agree with Rifkin in saying that, as a nation, we must have a combination of both to be politically successful.
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3 comments:
I definitely agree that religion is a large and significant part of American politics. In Paul Marshall’s article, Religion and Politics Do Mix, Marshall brings up a nice way of looking at religion and politics. Religion can help a country prosper in many ways, but religious discussions during election times are usually shallow. I think that people should not be debating whether one religion is superior to another, but rather talking about the ways that religion influences the country. Religion will not be left behind in future years, therefore politicians need to put an emphasis on political freedom and the importance of having some kind of faith to shape their decisions.
Rifkin's article does bring up an interesting point in American society, and although religion and politics have been separated in the minds of most people, there is certainly an irrefutable connection between the two. The United States is one of the most prominent countries in terms of religion--the South is titled the "Bible Belt." Many Americans grow up with religion as an integral part of their development, meaning much of our morals and principles are shaped by religion. Almost all of our government leaders have embraced such values in ascending to their respective political positions, and as such, I don't believe there is any doubt that religion plays "a role" in American politics. Such was the argument of William Martin in his book, With God on our Side, in which Martin notes key political and religious movements that have been intertwined throughout history. No matter what polls may say, there is no question that religion plays an important role in American politics—just ask Barack Obama, who has been denying any affiliation with Islam since his campaign began two years ago. Plain and simple, Americans still care.
While I disagree with the idea that a blend of both religion and politics is necessary on the nation’s political scene, I do agree with the idea that faith and politics are inevitably intertwined. The way I see it, the beliefs of a religious person become a part of that person’s everyday life. Thus, whether or not a politician overtly states the influence of his faith on his decisions is irrelevant, because his beliefs will still end up playing a subconscious role in his choices. Thus, while I feel that overt religion should be kept out of politics, less controversy should be wasted on the inevitable interaction the two subjects share beneath the surface.
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