Religion and PoliticsMotivations, Traditions and

Milestones

Religion and PoliticsMotivations, Traditions and

MilestonesA presentation by Andrea Marquis

June 6, 2007

A presentation by Andrea MarquisJune 6, 2007

Questions We’ll AnswerQuestions 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?

• 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?

DefinitionsDefinitions

• 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.

• 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 PoliticsJudaism 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

• 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..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

• 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…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”

• 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 PoliticsChristianity 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

• 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 ContinuedChristianity 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”

• 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 ContinuedChristianity 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

• 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 ContinuedChristianity Continued

• Church & State• Long tradition of

tension in separation

• political and social movements drawn upon religious institutions for authority, inspiration, organization

• Church & State• Long tradition of

tension in separation

• political and social movements drawn upon religious institutions for authority, inspiration, organization

Islam on PoliticsIslam 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

• 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…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

• 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…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

• 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 LiebermanJoe 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

• 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 SmithAl 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

• 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 EllisonKeith 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

• 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…Questions to Recap…