Prompt 5: Public Life

In today’s society religion is constantly being debated.  A major aspect of this debate is religion in politics and what boundaries should be set.  As an American citizen, what are your feelings about this?  Should religion play a role in politics?  Remember to think of all aspects of politics, from voters to politicians.  If you think religion should play a role in politics, and then explain where the boundary lines for religion should be drawn.  When answering keep in mind that government makes decisions for all types of people from all different religions.  Some good articles to refer to are, “Religion in Public Life:  Americans Yearn for a Middle Way” and “Do Americans Disagree When Church Leaders Mix Religion, Politics?” 

Olson, Laura R.  “The Essentiality of 'Culture' in the Study of Religion and Politics.”  Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 50.4 (2011):  639-653.  Print. 

This article shows the many theories of political scientists when analyzing the connection of religion and politics and the bridges connecting the two.  It also covers the social movements that follow religion in politics.

Medhurst, Martin J.  “Mitt Romney, “Faith in America,” and the Dance of Religion and Politics in American culture.”  Rhetoric and Public Affairs 12.2 (2009):  195-221.  Print.

This journal covers how religion interfered in the 2008 Republican primary election.  It cites Mitt Romney’s speech and analyzes the place religion takes.  The audience’s response to Romney’s speech is also discussed and shows how religion influenced voters.

Howe, Daniel Walker, Sheila Suess Kennedy, Kevin Phillips and Winnifred Fallers Sullivan.  “Religion and Politics on the American Scene.”  Religion & American Culture 18.1 (2008):  1-26.  Print.

This text discusses the interplay of religion and politics in America.  It stretches and covers everything from evangelism in politics and the Protestants of the nineteenth century to the alleged faith-based reasons behind the United States administration.

Lampman, Jane.  “Religion in Public Life:  Americans Yearn for a Middle Way.”  The Christian Science Monitor.  30 August  2006.  Web.  February. 2012.

This article claims that Americans strive for more religion in public life due to society’s immorality.  Yet, when a national poll was taken almost half of the country says there is too much religion from conservatives, but then over half say liberals don’t have enough religion.  Americans aren’t divided into two dead set sides; they are desperately looking for a happy medium. 

Gutting, Gary.  “Should Religion Play a role in Politics?”  The Opinion Pages.  The New York Times.  27 July 2011.  Web.  10 Feb. 2012.

This article argues that religion has no place in American Politics.  The author does acknowledge that religion is internal and therefore cannot be seen and weeded out of politicians.  Gutting says it’s the theory of religion that does not belong in politics, not the spirituality. 

Samuel, Stephanie.  “Do Americans Disagree When Church Leaders Mix Religion, Politics?”  Politics.  The Christian Post.  23 August 2011.  Web.  9 Feb. 2012.

This Article argues that most Americans don’t like when religious leaders are seen with political icons.  Americans don’t want to feel like any religion is influencing how they are being governed.

Cauthen, Kenneth.  “Church and State, Religion and Politics.”  The Ethics of Belief:  A Bio-Historical Approach 2 (2001)

This article is about the distinction between religion versus politics and church and state.  Church and State is in reference to two different institutions and practices.  Religion and politics is the differences of activities of the same person or persons.

“Religion a Hot Issue in 2012 GOP Race.”  Fox News.com.  3 Sept. 2011.  Web.  Feb. 2012.

This article discusses the importance some Americans feel in religion and therefore demand a leader with religious beliefs.  It claims that due to culture debates and societal changes, political leaders religious beliefs are no longer considered private.  The article references Mitt Romney as an example of a leader trying to hide his religion. 

“Religion and the 2012 Nevada Republican Caucuses.”  The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.  6 Feb. 2012.  Web.  10 Feb. 2012.

This article is about Mitt Romney’s win in the 2012 Nevada Republican caucuses.  This was due to his overwhelming support from Catholics and Mormons.  His religion proved to greatly help Romney gain votes and win the election.  The big question now is whether or not his religion will help him when it comes to the entire nation voting.

Rabens, Tye.  “Faith Wars:  Religion and Politics in America.”  State Press Magazine.  10 Nov. 2010.  Web.  12 Feb. 2012

This article discusses the newly raging war in America between the conservative morals of the Christian community and the opposite liberals.  It uses multiple examples illustrating each of the two sides and the arguments for each.

Dobbs, Lou.  “Dobbs:  Keep Religion Out of Politics.”  Religion and Politics.  CNN U.S.  26 Sept. 2006.  Web.  Feb. 2012.

This article discusses all the different factors Dobbs says should play a role in politics.  He does not claim that religion should affect politics or how America votes. 

“Pew Global Attitudes Project.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  851-857. Print.

This article is about the United States being different than the rest of the world in religious importance.  In other countries around the world religion plays a huge role in every aspect of public lives.  In the United States religion is much more hidden and there is much debate on whether or not it should stay hidden.

Goodstein, Laurie.  “More Religion, but Not the Old Time Kind.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins:  Boston MA, 2010.  858-863. Print.

In this article the author claims that Pentecostalism has had the greatest increase in membership.  It shows all different countries and charts their religious diversity.   Religion is changing and adapting to the new society the world is creating.

Lindsay, D.  Michael.  “Evangelicalism Rebounds in Academe.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  865-871. Print.

This article discusses the growth in evangelism on college campuses.  The importance of religion to young people is increasing.  Lindsay also compares fundamentalism and evangelicalism and their major differences.

Bryant, Michelle.  “Selling Safe Sex in Public Schools.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  872-876. Print.

This article is an interview with Shelby Knox.  Knox is a national supporter and promoter of sexual education, women’s rights and youth empowerment.  Interviewing her helped the author grasp a good perspective on sexual education.

Mock, Melanie Springer.  “Separation of Church and State:  A War on Christmas and Other Misguided Notions.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  877-880. Print.

This article is about different religious notions that have been publicly altered.  A good example of this is the controversy being debated over Christmas and whether or not it should still be referred to Christmas.

Scallia, Antonin.  “God’s Justice and Ours.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  881-887. Print.

This article takes the U.S. Constitution and compares it to the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church.  It discusses things such as the death penalty and society’s changing attitude towards it. 

Rahmani, Mariam.  “Wearing a Head Scarf is my Choice as a Muslim:  Please Respect It.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  888-891. Print.

This article is about a law in France that bans all public display of religion.  To Rahmani, this means losing the right to wear her head scarf.  This is a violation of religious freedom which is not a right in France like it is in the United States.

Cohen, Randy.  “Between the Sexes.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  892. Print.

This article is about an orthodox Jewish man who refused to shake hands with a woman due to religious beliefs.  The response of Cohen was that no religion has a right to discriminate against any group of people.  He’s pretty much saying that feminism overrides freedom of religion.

“Letters in Response to Cohen’s Advice.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  893. Print.

These letters were written in response to Cohen’s opinion on an orthodox Jew refusing to shake hands with a woman.  Cohen said he had no right to refuse to shake hands solely because she was a woman.  The letters, however, say the opposite.  They criticize Cohen and say that freedom of religion allows the man to refuse to shake the woman’s hand. 

Einstein, Albert.  “An Ideal of Service to Our Fellow Man.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  895-897. Print.

This article was written by a Jewish man and explains how great the manifestation of God is.  Einstein claims that people’s morality must be driven by compassion.  He also regarded individual education highly and said that the individual must be responsible and educate themselves.

Patel, Eboo.  “We are Each Other’s Business,” Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  897-898. Print.

This article is written by an American-Muslim.  In the beginning he claims to be a believer in pluralism but neglects his friend when a group uses anti-Semitic slurs against him.  Patel says that America is the perfect place for us to accept each other and all religions.

Jillette, Penn.  “There is No God.”  Everything’s an Argument.  Ed.  Karen S. Henry.  Bedford/St. Martins: Boston MA, 2010.  898. Print.

This was an article written by an atheist.  Jillette claims to be beyond atheist because he doesn’t just not believe in God, he completely denies the existence of God.  He claims that believing in no God makes him more thoughtful to others because he is being nice without a deity making him.