Religion vs. Secularism - 2082 Words

Religion and Secular Public Policy The relationship that never worked In the American presidential election of 2004, faith-based policies and issues of religion were at the center of the controversy. With his religious stances on abortion, gay marriage, and faith-based education, as well as his campaigns success in painting him as a man of religious conviction, President George W. Bush commanded the pious, Christian population, which appeared in great numbers at the polls. Senator John Kerrys campaign, alternatively, painted its candidate as an intellectual, academic politician. The senator appealed to the more secular and intellectual population that, in the end, proved less populous than the pro-Bush voters. Though it is difficult to†¦show more content†¦A pre-election trip across the Arkansas countryside is all it takes to see evidence of religions coupling with politics. Removable letters outside a church in Conway, AR displayed not the usual reminders of church services, but instead reminded voters that a vote for Bush is a vote for God. 4 Because most truly religious people hold allegiances to things higher than their countries, such as the Vatican or God Himself (the laws of God are above the laws of Man), religion itself has a blinding effect for these people who also hold the right to vote. This church, clearly favoring the President, employed guilt tripping as a tactic to bolster the Republican vote in the area. Religion tends to define the lines between issues: it tells its followers what to believe. Such messages, whether literally displayed on church lawns or subliminally implanted in campaign advertisements and speeches, do not call the legality of religion in politics into question (this discussion is not about the separation of church and state) but instead call into question the ethics of casting a vote in the political arena based on a belief held in the religious arena. The problem with the relationship between secular politics and religion is that it is entirely unnatural: the two institutions are bot h necessary and both omnipresent. Religion and public policy are twoShow MoreRelatedDoes Religion Foster Democracy?1383 Words   |  6 PagesDoes religion foster democracy? This question has plagued many political scientists for decades. Carsten Ancker examines the theories of Samuel P. Huntington in her work â€Å"Religion and Democracy: A Worldwide Comparison.† In 1991, Huntington hypothesized that religion led to the institutionalization of democracy, especially Christianity. Huntington referenced the rise of democracies in the 70’s that were related to the spread of religion as well as earlier, when Protestantism was popular. In his bookRead MoreEssay on Women Empowerment5257 Words   |  22 Pagesoften have ripple effects to future generations. The roles that men and women play in society are not biologically determined - they are socially determined, changing and changeable. Although they may be justified as being required by culture or religion, these roles v ary widely by locality and change over time. Key issues and linkages: 1)Reproductive health: Women, for both physiological and social reasons, are more vulnerable than men to reproductive health problems. Reproductive health problemsRead MoreEssay on Women Empowerment5266 Words   |  22 Pagesoften have ripple effects to future generations. The roles that men and women play in society are not biologically determined - they are socially determined, changing and changeable. Although they may be justified as being required by culture or religion, these roles vary widely by locality and change over time. Key issues and linkages: 1)Reproductive health: Women, for both physiological and social reasons, are more vulnerable than men to reproductive health problems. Reproductive health problemsRead MorePrayer, Homosexuality, And Alcohol And Drugs1469 Words   |  6 PagesReligion vs. Secularism in Prayer, Homosexuality, and Alcohol and Drugs The Puritans left England to be able to have the freedom of choosing their religion. Their voyage seems like a long time ago, but still today, America struggles to find the balance between religion and freedom. This paper will discuss three areas where this battle is manifested: public prayer, homosexuality, and alcohol and drugs. America today reflects the outcome of each side’s ability to make laws and the measures that wereRead MoreExtempore Topics1028 Words   |  5 Pagesguy) Bollywood(SOP) dressed to kill commonwealth games and impact on india Unity in Diversity small efforts giga results package is everything today(consumerism) Arjuna and Management(as my name is Arjun) Race horses are born and not bred NIT vs IIT(NITIAN) Bird Watching K2 most pleasant day of my life If I were at the center of the earth Mother can make great nations Swimming is the best sport titan sunshine being mayawati gurunanak(school name) delhi as a capital pencil sangam Read More2- Religion Does Not Cause Wars860 Words   |  4 PagesReligion Causes War. So often is this sentiment heard in the best sellers from Richard Dawkins to Sam Harris that it has almost become a proverb. It is said so often that people believe it without question. But, in fact, religion does not cause war. 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