Transcript Religion and Politics Motivations and blah blah blah

Religion and Politics
Motivations, Traditions and
Milestones
A presentation by Andrea Marquis
June 6, 2007
Questions We’ll Answer
• How does religion
effect motivation
to participate in
politics?
• How does this
vary by religion?
• By era in time?
• Who have been
milestones in
involvement in the
public office?
Definitions
• Government
– the political direction and control exercised
over the actions of the members, citizens, or
inhabitants of communities, societies, and
states; direction of the affairs of a state,
community, etc.; political administration
• Politics
– The art or science of government or governing,
especially the governing of a political entity,
such as a nation, and the administration and
control of its internal and external affairs.
Judaism on Politics
• Jewish people and political tradition-3300+
years… from enslaved caste, exiled community,
to modern state
• 1 Samuel 8, Judges 9:7-15 transition, want for
King
• recognition of the Jews as a separate people, not
merely a religion or set of moral principles
• Isaiah 33:17-24 -- “the Lord our judge, the Lord
our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will
save us.”
• how the Jews managed to maintain their polity
over centuries of independence, exile and
dispersion
Judaism continued..
• Tradition based on power and
justice
• edah --a coming together -constituted through the Sinai
covenant
• concern for relationships rather
than regimes
• governors and the governed
• Embodied in principle of
covenant
• Genesis 17:1-27 “Between you
and me I will establish my
covenant”
 binding obligation rests on
both parties
Judaism continued…
• Jews must assume
responsibility for the effort to
build the "kingdom of heaven"
on earth
• vital for Jews to rediscover the
Jewish political tradition to
pursue the Jewish vision &
root their institutions
• Ezekiel 20:1-44 “I will count
you with the staff and bring
back but a small number”
Christianity on Politics
• Emerged from Jewish tradition
• Romans 13:1-7” “for it is the servant
of God for your good. But if you do
evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the
sword without purpose; it is the
servant of God to inflict wrath on the
evildoer.”
– Reigning supreme over human
rulers
• 1 Kings 2:36-46 “ The throne of David
shall be established before the Lord
forever”
– Jewish heritage
Christianity Continued
• service of God and the respect for
kings are bound together
– 1 Peter 2:13-17 “Fear God, honor the
king”
• Bishop Bossuet
– “Kings should tremble then as they use the
power God has granted them”
Christianity Continued
• Citizenship
• As an Israelite,
Roman citizen
• Citizen of heaven
– Ephesians 2:14-22
– Philippians 3:17-21
– “But our citizenship
is in heaven”
– Concern with
heavenly vs. worldly
affairs
Christianity Continued
• Church & State
• Long tradition of
tension in separation
• political and social
movements drawn
upon religious
institutions for
authority, inspiration,
organization
Islam on Politics
• Surah 4:105, 5:44-45
• 2 people mentioned
– allatheena aslamoo- judge
according to Allah= Muslims
– Kafiroon- do not judge according to
Allah
– Today, no government which rules,
solely according to what Allah has
revealed
– All Governments are of Kafiroon…
no Islamic Government that exists
on the face of earth today
Islam Continued…
• Al-Hukm-Judgment, Rule, Command
• Belongs to Allah alone
– Surah 6:57-62 “Command rests with none but
Allah”
• Although all-powerful, Allah does not
change laws
– Surah 33:59-62
• Invisible, Muhammad central authority
Islam Continued…
• Death of Muhammad
• Division of Sunni and Shi’i
Islam
• Affairs decided mutually
– Any disagreements refereed to
Allah
– Surah 42:10-15
• Democratic conflict
– objective standards and the
absolute criteria given in the
Qur’an
Joe Lieberman
• Four terms on U.S. Senate, 2000
Vice Presidential candidate, won
popular vote
• Orthodox Jew, won’t campaign
on Shabbat… Keeps Kosher home
• Politically: “I agree more often
than not with Democrats on
domestic policy. I agree more
often than not with Republicans
on foreign and defense policy”
• Says there is a “constitutional
place for faith in our public life”controversy
Al Smith
• Democratic Presidential
Candidate in 1928
• First Catholic to be
nominated
– Swept Catholic vote
– Critiques feared he would
answer to Pope instead of to
U.S. Constitution
• Long-term voter realignment
• Changing nature of American
Politics
• Lead to JFK's victory in 1960
Keith Ellison
• First Muslim in U.S.
Congress, Minnesota
• Raised Roman
Catholic, in college
converted to Sunni
Islam
• For Muslims, encourages
civic empowerment
through participation in
the political process
Questions to Recap…