Is Religion Bad for Politics?

[Diogenes]

Is Religion Bad for Politics and other forms of public discourse? That is the question for debate.

During the last 40 years or so there has been a war waged by many in the evangelical community, a war agains 'secularism.' More recently that war has resulted in congregants leaving their churches to join more conservative enclaves, churches that unabashedly preach right wing politics along with fundamentalist religious views.
How Politics Poisoned the Evangelical Church
The movement spent 40 years at war with secular America. Now it’s at war with itself.
__ Tim Alberta, The Atlantic, May 10, 2022
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/20 ... VXV085L3dA

Don't absolutist views, supported by religious faith, increase the likelihood of increasing conflict in the body politic, making differences irreconcilable and violence more likely? Would both society and the church be better off if the church confined itself to spiritual and personal moral values?

[2ndRateMind]

It is hard to make a more telling point about the danger of religious tribalism.

Trump is not a Christian, even if he finds it electorally advantageous to pretend he is. Your point, therefore, is not about the dangers of religious tribalism, but those of political tribalism.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[Wootah]

It is hard to make a more telling point about the danger of religious tribalism.

Trump is not a Christian, even if he finds it electorally advantageous to pretend he is. Your point, therefore, is not about the dangers of religious tribalism, but those of political tribalism.

Best wishes, 2RM.

Everyone forgets Trump was a darling of the left until he used that to his advantage.

[Diogenes]

30 years ago Trump called himself a Democrat when he thought it was in his self interest. He was never a 'darling of the left.' He calls himself a Christian because it got him the evangelical vote. He only does what is in his own self interest. He has no other guiding principle. The difference is Christians and Republicans have embraced him... literally.

But let's make one thing very clear. Christianity does not necessarily have anything to do with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. For some it does, for many it is just a cultural allegiance. When a multitude of Christian pastors worship at the feet of their Golden Calf, fawn over him, "pray" over him, they have betrayed their Christ and they are tearing the Evangelical Church apart.

"The root of the discord lies in the fact that many Christians have embraced the worst aspects of our culture and our politics. When the Christian faith is politicized, churches become repositories not of grace but of grievances, places where tribal identities are reinforced, where fears are nurtured, and where aggression and nastiness are sacralized. The result is not only wounding the nation; it’s having a devastating impact on the Christian faith."
__ Peter Wehner, fellow at the Trinity Forum, a nonprofit Christian organization.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archi ... cs/620469/

[2ndRateMind]

30 years ago Trump called himself a Democrat when he thought it was in his self interest. He was never a 'darling of the left.' He calls himself a Christian because it got him the evangelical vote. He only does what is in his own self interest. He has no other guiding principle. The difference is Christians and Republicans have embraced him... literally.

But let's make one thing very clear. Christianity does not necessarily have anything to do with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. For some it does, for many it is just a cultural allegiance. When a multitude of Christian pastors worship at the feet of their Golden Calf, fawn over him, "pray" over him, they have betrayed their Christ and they are tearing the Evangelical Church apart.

"The root of the discord lies in the fact that many Christians have embraced the worst aspects of our culture and our politics. When the Christian faith is politicized, churches become repositories not of grace but of grievances, places where tribal identities are reinforced, where fears are nurtured, and where aggression and nastiness are sacralized. The result is not only wounding the nation; it’s having a devastating impact on the Christian faith."
__ Peter Wehner, fellow at the Trinity Forum, a nonprofit Christian organization.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archi ... cs/620469/

Let us just hope that the Republicans and Evangelists eventually see through the man as clearly as you do, and he never gets the chance to become president of the US again. Alas though, in America, money talks, and it is possible many will overlook his grievous character flaws in the hope of leveraging a few bucks in their own direction.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[2ndRateMind]

...Would both society and the church be better off if the church confined itself to spiritual and personal moral values?

My perspective on this is that spiritual and personal moral values are the bedrock on which a nation's values are founded. But coming from the UK, a country with a politically established Christian faith, I think the Anglican Communion has an important role to play in our national life, and I would not like to see it diluted.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[2ndRateMind]

Don't absolutist views, supported by religious faith, increase the likelihood of increasing conflict in the body politic, making differences irreconcilable and violence more likely?

As a liberal Christian, I tend to the opinion that absolutist views are pretty much always bound to be wrong. But it is life that teaches us that, and there is no substitute for being appropriately humbled by experience.

Best wishes, 2RM