Christianity and PoliticsChristianity and Politics

Involved or separate?Involved or separate?

The Separation of religion and The Separation of religion and politics.politics.

Some Christians believe that Some Christians believe that Christianity and politics should Christianity and politics should be kept separate.be kept separate.

Christianity is concerned with Christianity is concerned with the spiritual (worshipping God the spiritual (worshipping God and improving the soul).and improving the soul).

Politics is concerned with the Politics is concerned with the material (how society works).material (how society works).

They believe this because…They believe this because…

Jesus said ‘Give Jesus said ‘Give to Caesar what is to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give Caesar’s and give to God what is to God what is God’s’.God’s’.

This means some This means some things belong to things belong to God and some to God and some to politics.politics.

They also believe this They also believe this because…because…

St Paul said that Christians St Paul said that Christians should obey political leaders.should obey political leaders.

Protestant leaders like Martin Protestant leaders like Martin Luther King divided the spiritual Luther King divided the spiritual from the material.from the material.

Religion has to be kept out of Religion has to be kept out of politics in a multi-faith society politics in a multi-faith society because no one religion can be because no one religion can be the most important. the most important.

Involvement in politicsInvolvement in politics

Some Christians Some Christians believe that believe that Christianity Christianity cannot be kept cannot be kept out of politics.out of politics.

Christians should Christians should bring Christian bring Christian principles into principles into politics.politics.

They believe this because of They believe this because of the teachings of Jesus.the teachings of Jesus. Jesus was involved in politics (e.g. Jesus was involved in politics (e.g.

when he threw the money-changers when he threw the money-changers out of the temple).out of the temple).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus showed it is impossible to serve God showed it is impossible to serve God and money, meaning religion must and money, meaning religion must control politics.control politics.

If you separate them you can end up If you separate them you can end up being controlled by politics instead of being controlled by politics instead of God.God.

Also…Also… St James showed that St James showed that

Christians must be Christians must be involved in improving the involved in improving the material lives of other material lives of other people.people.

Church leaders have all Church leaders have all said that Christians said that Christians should be involved in should be involved in helping the poor, working helping the poor, working for peace etc.for peace etc.

You have to be involved You have to be involved in politics to do this.in politics to do this.

Example exam questionsExample exam questions

Outline different Christian Outline different Christian attitudes to politics. (6)attitudes to politics. (6)

Explain why Christians have Explain why Christians have different attitudes to politics.(8)different attitudes to politics.(8)