REASONS WHY RELIGION AND POLITICS CANNOT MIX

REASONS WHY RELIGION AND POLITICS CANNOT MIX

REASONS WHY RELIGION AND POLITICS CANNOT MIX
You will specifically want to reference and critique, wherever possible, relevant ideas from the American values (liberty, legal equality and equality of opportunity, tolerance, respect for dissent, self-reliance, and the pursuit of truth ) ; Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Jefferson, and interpretation of the Constitution -first amendment,

Why Religion and Politics Cannot Mix

The issue of mixing religion and politics has remained contentious for long, resulting in debates on the viability of their coexistence. In the context of the United States of America, the major societal principles include liberty, legal equality, tolerance, respect for dissent, self-reliance, and the pursuit of truth. According to Gonzalez (2012), if religion is mixed with politics, there is a high chance of encroaching upon personal liberties, which emphasizes the freedom of choice and individual autonomy. For instance, religious doctrines may influence legislative decisions, thereby causing constraints on individual rights. In addition, Corbett et al. (2014), note that the pursuit of truth may also be compromised in the process. This is because faith may be given a higher priority when making decisions as opposed to using empirical evidence, hindering the commitment of the nation to objective truth-seeking.

Other vital tenets of American values that can be affected are legal equality and equality of opportunity. If religious beliefs are infused into the political sphere, it may result in discrimination against those who fail to align with the dominating religious ideology. Such discrimination can hinder the essence of equality, disrupting the democratic balance that the nation is working hard to achieve (Wilde & Glassman, 2016). Moreover, the introduction of religious principles into politics can threaten the principle of tolerance. Those challenging the prevailing religious norms may be silenced or marginalized by the majority under the influence of a given political and religious standpoint.

On the philosophical aspect, the separation of religion and politics was advocated for by luminaries such as Plato and Aristotle. On his side, Plato envisioned a philosopher-king who is untethered from religious influence, while Aristotle knew the significance of practical wisdom and reason in making political decisions, independent of religious doctrine (Gonzalez, 2012). Furthermore, the American Constitution has been shaped significantly by John Locke’s ideas on the separation of church and state and religious tolerance. Therefore, mixing religion and politics would be a contradiction to Locke’s vision of a government that shows respect for individual rights, irrespective of religious affiliations (Wilde & Glassman, 2016). Another figure is Thomas Jefferson, who played a huge role in the drafting of the Constitution and strongly supported the First Amendment, which was against establishing a state religion.

In conclusion, mixing religion and politics would present a challenge to the core American values and contradict the philosophical perspectives of influential thinkers. It is therefore important to maintain the separation of religion and politics to uphold the principles that form the democratic backbone of the nation.

References

Corbett, M., Corbett-Hemeyer, J., & Wilson, J. M. (2014). Politics and religion in the United States. Routledge.

Gonzalez, M. (2012). Religion and the US presidency: Politics, the media, and religious identity. Political Theology, 13(5), 568-585.

Wilde, M., & Glassman, L. (2016). How complex religion can improve our understanding of American politics. Annual Review of Sociology, 42, 407-425.