Many apologies from being away from this endeavor for so long. Our home internet connection was inoperable all weekend.
I have long watched with interest the melding together of faith and politics in the American context. As we continue to speed toward Election Day 2008, it seems that this is still the case. It is 'common wisdom' that the American people think faith issues do play and should play an important role in the political process, especially as they consider for whom to vote. Since the election of Ronald Reagan as President, at least, the common wisdom has held that the evangelical (conservative) Christians in the country comprise the most important voting bloc in the nation and has been the difference in securing the election of both President Reagan and President George W. Bush.
A new poll published by the Pew Center on August 21 seems to cast doubt on that 'common wisdom.' 52% of those surveyed, including 50% of conservatives, said that "churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters and not express their views on day-to-day social and political matters." Further, "nearly half (48%) say religious conservatives have too much influence over the Republican Party, up from 43% in August 2007." And, 66% say that churches should NOT endorse one candidate over another. While those numbers may indicate that more Americans question the role of religion in politics, still, 72% of the respondents indicated they want a president with strong religious beliefs.
All of this would seem to suggest, perhaps, that the country is tired of religous groups - churches, denominations, ministries, etc. - telling the people who is and is not good for the country and what is and is not the right view to hold and for whom God would or would not vote, while, at the same time, wanting a person with deep religious convictions to run the country.
What do you think? Do these poll results jive with your views?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Reflections ... last verse - for a while
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1 comment:
Always good to have you back on-line Michael!
The poll results seem pretty sound to me. Nobody wants to be told how to vote, and they do not go to church for political analysis or advice. The clergy is very lucky if their parishioners are willing to believe and follow their spiritual advice, and if they can manage the politics of their own congregation, without trying to go off into areas truly beyond their charter or expertise. Perhaps if the clergy stuck to their own business, the churches of America, especially the mainline ones, would be in better health. It may not be coincidence that most churches, and unions are losing members at the same time that voting participation rates have also fallen.
All that said, people do want a President that they feel is honest and trustworthy, and thankfully those traits are still associated with people of faith. More surprising to me is the way that voters reject anyone seen to have changed their minds, then again maybe that is just because politicians are so reticent to admit error, unless caught in an all out scandal. I think that people hope that candidates with a strong faith will not be scandalous, but will truly strive to do what is right, and come prepared with a solid ethical basis for deciding.
Your history seems a bit naive though. The preference for Presidents with strong faith did not start with Reagan. I am impressed that you even knew that Reagan had a strong set of beliefs, but maybe you admire him for being fairly private about what he believed, although not so private about applying moral principles to public policy decisions.
You just may not be old enough to remember that Jimmy Carter was well known as a Sunday School teacher. Religion was important to the election of Kennedy, I would think, although the specific denomination caused much discussion. In the end it does not look like he consulted much with the Pope on political or extramarital affairs.
Way beyond that, I can not imagine that the nation would have elected the leaders who ended slavery, launched prohibition, settled suffrage, sorted out civil rights and stood up against oppression around the world, if America and its Presidents had not had such a strong belief in the Creator and His intentions for Man.
After great leaders with faith have done so much good for the country and the world, I continue to struggle to try to figure out why you seem to indicate a preference for removing faith, and spiritual matters from the national discourse, or from the list of assets that we should consider when selecting a leader.
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