Religion is prominent in politics throughout the world. For example, it is a major factor in the government of Iran, and it may have contributed to the defeat of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty in the June 12th Irish referendum. Although the Catholic church took no official position on the treaty, the Irish Society for a Christian Civilization claimed the treaty would "ignore God and the Christian roots of Europe and ... create a new European identity based on radical secularism and atheistic philosophies, and will facilitate abortion, euthanasia, and embryo experimentation, and impose homosexual marriage and gay adoption" on Ireland. The treaty was defeated by a vote of 53-47 percent, throwing Europe into a quandry over what to do next. Religion is a issue in American electoral politics, as witnessed in the campaigns of George W. Bush and the most recent controversies over Pastor John Hagee and the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, But, perhaps more importantly, it is a significant element in shaping personal values, which affect the opinions and behavior of many Americans on numerous public issues.

Furthermore, the reciprocal relationship between religion and politics in America is not new. Religion contributed to the European exploration of the Western hemisphere, and differences between the spiritual life of Native Americans and European settlers exacerbated the clash of cultures that continues today. After more than nearly three centuries of supernaturalism and colonial rule, epitomized by Puritanism, the philosophy of the Enlightenment and Deism influenced the Founders of the new nation. Religion not only contributed to Independence, it played significant parts in abolition, women’s suffrage, temperance, prohibition, welfare legislation, civil rights, and anti-war efforts. Today America is a nation of diverse religions.

According to cultural anthropologist Clifford Geertz, religion is "... a system of symbols which act to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting motivations ... by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence" (1966, 3). Such motivations take many shapes, and influence the thinking and behavior of Americans in myriad ways. Mainly, we shall be concerned about how religious motives mold social values, how religion influences what is valued and not valued in public affairs. For some, religious motives may be the major force in shaping their values. For others, religious motives may be non-existent or even a negative consideration. While for most, even if they do not realize it, religion may be a significant influence. Likewise, Mark Noll contends that politics affects religion (2007).

Most importantly, since religious motivations contribute to the formation of values, our study of relationships between religious beliefs, religious institutions, and religious leaders on the one hand and people's values on the other should help us understand many aspects of American politics. After all, David Easton wrote that politics is "the authoritative allocation of values for a society" (1955, 129). Therefore, we may ask, to what degree are religious beliefs and practices related to politics? How much influence does religion have in American politics? How much, if any, should it have? Why? If religion is influential, how does it exercise its influence? To what degree, if any, should government regulate religion? We shall explore these questions and develop some tentative responses.

Moreover, we shall test Tocqueville's propositions about religion and politics in America. When he visited the United States in 1831, he observed "an innumerable multitude of sects" that "differ in the worship one must render to the Creator, but all agree on the duties of men toward one another." Does this hold today? He concluded "what is most important is not so much that all citizens profess the true religion but that they profess a religion" (278). Why? He found that diverse doctrines did not provoke serious disputes. Instead, a spirit of tolerance or, perhaps, indifference surmounted dogmatic conflict. Further, he noted: "Religion, which ... never mixes directly in the government of [American] society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions; for if it does not give them the taste for freedom it singularly facilitates their use of it" (280). Does this continue today?

Easton, David. 1955. The Political System: An Inquiry into the State of Political Science. New York: Knopf.
Geertz, Clifford. 1966. "Religion as a Cultural System," in M. Banton, ed. Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion. London: Tavistock. 1-46.
Noll, Mark A., and Luke E. Harlow, eds. 2007. Religion and American Politics: From the Colonial Period to the Present. New York: Oxford University Press.
De Tocqueville. Alexis. 1831. Democracy in America. Harvey Mansfield and Delba Winthrop, trans., ed., intro. 2000. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Reading and Discussion (40 percent).We shall read and discuss four texts plus a number of articles to gain an understanding of religious diversity in America, how it affects politics, and how politics affects it. The texts are as follows:

Flesher, LeeAnn Snow. 2006. Left Behind? The Facts Behind the Fiction. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, $11.20.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. 2008. Chapter 2, "Social and Political Views," U.S. Religious Landscape Survey.
Westen, Drew. 2008. The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation. New York: Public Affairs, $15.95.
Wills, Garry. 2007. Head and Heart: American Christianities. New York: Penguin Press, $12.55.

Questions for discussion include the following: How are the concepts of religion and polity related? Is the U.S. a Christian Nation? How have religious leaders and organizations influenced political movements in the U.S.? What is the place of religion in a limited democracy? Can all religions enjoy freedom? How are elements of scripture and doctrine used in American political discourse? Can public policies be justified on faith? How does a person’s religion affect his or her political attitudes and behaviors?

Writing (30 percent). Each student will write two essay examinations, one on Westen and one on Wills. Each essay contributes 15 percent of the course evaluation. You may access study questions for Westen and Wills.

Team Project (20 percent). Students will form small groups, work closely with the instructor, and participate in the construction, administration, analysis, and presentation of the results of an opinion survey on religion in American politics. This assignment requires work outside class time and is the major reason this is a four unit course. You may access a detailed description of the project.

Project Presentation (10 percent). During the final examination period, Tuesday, December 16, 1240-1430, each student will present a five-minute oral summary of his or her portion of the team project.

Weekly Topics and Assignments. Please access specific Weekly Topics and Assignments.

Please consult these Additional Sources to complement your assigned reading and assist you in your Research Project.

If you have a documented disability, and would like to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible. Our campus Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) can assist you with the accommodation process. The SDRC is located in House 71 (Little Apartments) off Library Circle. You may reach it by telephone at (707) 826-4678 or (707) 826-5392 (TDD).

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