Religion and Politics

US Christian Right, a comment: Radical vs. moderate Muslims:

The global religious landscape (Pew Research global study, 2012): exec.aspx exec.aspx

Modernization and secularization  C. Wright Mills, 1960s: “Once, the world was filled with the sacred – in thought, practice, and institutional form. After the Reformation and the Renaissance, forces of modernizations swept across the globe, and secularization, a corollary process, loosened the dominance of the sacred. In due course, the sacred will disappear altogether, except, possibly, in the private realm.”  Peter Berger, 2000s: “The world today, with some exceptions, is as furiously religious as it ever was, and in some places even more so than ever. This means that a whole body of literature by historians and social scientists loosely labeled “modernization” is mistaken.”

Christianity’s southern shift* Sub-Saharan Africa: the Christian share of the population has soared from 9% a century ago to 63%. 24% of the world’s Christians live there. Nigeria has more Protestants than Germany: 80 mln. people Europe: the Christian share has dropped from 95% to 76%. The Americas: decline from 96% to 86%. *Pew Research, Dec africa-europe/ /1 africa-europe/ /1

Ten global trends in religion, by Jay Gary:

Trends in the West Church attendance has fallen Clergy has lost its authority over the public in such matters as birth control, divorce, sexual orientation, and necessity of marriage before childbirth Growing religious diversity and politicization of religious differences In America: rising power of Christian fundamentalists

Trends in the post-communist East End of persecution of religion Post-atheistic religious revival in most countries, especially among Orthodox Christians and Muslims The church increases its influence on state and society Religion acquires a growing role in underpinning conservative forces in societies

Trends in the Global South The rise of political Islam The growth of Christian churches, especially in Africa Rise of Christian-Muslim tensions and conflicts

Nationality and faith: competing identities

The state is defined by its monopoly on the use of force And by its legitimacy For legitimation of power, most states in history have needed religion The state’s need to justify itself in the minds of the ruled The church (mosque, ashram, synagogue) plays a mediating role between the rulers and the ruled:  It helps rulers maintain a social order  And, as a major institution of civil society, it helps the people adapt to a social order – or change it Interactions, contradictions and balances between these two functions are at the core of the problematic of church- state relations

Relations between state and religious institutions are an important area of political life There was a time when these relations were crucial With the progress of secularization, they have receded into the background – almost disappeared from view Commonplace slogans such as “separation of church from state” have hidden a rich and complex reality But this reality is now revealing itself again in various cultural settings Religion cannot be totally separated from politics And the state cannot ignore religion

Models of relations between religion and the state  Religious and state institutions are closely bound together  Religion is separate from the state and persecuted by it  Religion and the state are constitutionally separate, faith is a private matter, no religious discrimination

With rare exceptions, the rulers need religion But they often keep a wary eye on religious activities Because religion can never be fully controlled What are the loyalties of the believers?  To God  To the ruler  To the state, irrespective of the ruler  To the nation Can these loyalties be broken?  Criticizing the ruler  Questioning some laws  Criticizing society

To what extent and in what ways can religion influence the exercise of state power?  Religion may help protect society from the state’s aggressions  It may help maintain a moral order  It may speak out against injustice in society  It may foster national unity in the face of threats to the nation Or,  It may stand in the way of social and political change  Advocate discrimination and oppression  Foster social discord  Rationalize tyranny, aggression and militarism

Whether organized religion sides with the state against society or reinforces society vis-a-vis the state Whether the church helps society to solve its problems or hinders the search for solutions -  Depends on many different factors: Political, economic, cultural In an age of democratic proliferation, the roles of organized religion are determined less and less by its power structures, and more and more by the laity – common parishioners

Religion and war 1745 wars have taken place in human history (The Encyclopedia of Wars) Over religious in nature Christianity and Islam have been involved in over 85% of the religious wars.

Invoking gods for strength Assuring obedience Mobilizing the will to fight In Bronze Age Middle East, every city had its own god, considered the supreme ruler War between cities was regarded as war between those gods Humans fighting each other were like proxies of gods (Homer’s tales) Continues in the Iron Age

Ares, God of War (ancient Greece)

Mars (ancient Rome)

Year 312 CE: Roman Emperor Constantine converts to Christianity

Year 988: Russia is converted to Christianity: destruction of pagan gods

8 th century: the Arab conquest

11 th century: the First Crusade

Muslims vs. Crusaders, 12 th century

1099: Capture of Jerusalem in the First Crusade

1204: Crusaders take Constantinople

1572: On St. Bartholomew’s Day, French Protestants kill Catholics

2014: ISIS executing Iraqi tribesmen