Religion and Politics Motivations, Traditions and Milestones A presentation by Andrea Marquis June...
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Transcript of Religion and Politics Motivations, Traditions and Milestones A presentation by Andrea Marquis June...
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…