Religious Groups at the CenterIntroduction: Despite the rather simplistic understanding of religion and

politics in America (religious conservatives vs religious liberals with seculars; called ‘Culture War’), some have argued it is more complex than that (African Americans, Muslims, Catholics, etc.). That is, different kinds of religious people look to and interpret politics differently according to their underlying theological traditions (African Americans favor expanding government programs for poor; Lincoln saw the Civil War as divine judgment; evangelicals want protection for Christians in Sudan; Jews want protection for Israel; Mainline Protestants favor environmental protections; many Catholics oppose both abortion and death penalty but favor government healthcare for the poor). Are these left vs right issues?

I. Mainline Protestants (14% of pop and falling) - their numbers are dwindling rapidly around the world.

A. Theological differences with evangelicals - disagree with evangelicals over a number of theological issues surfacing in the early 1900s from the ‘fundamentalist-modernist controversy’ (Bible IS the Word of God vs Bible CONTAINS the Word of God; Christ is the ONLY way vs ONE way; Primary mission of the church is evangelism vs Social Gospel or social reform). MP’s less likely to attend church weekly or engage in personal devotional activities.

B. Political differences – originally they were Republicans, but are conflicted today leaning DEM. They are somewhat more politically liberal (on issues) than evangelicals but comparable to Catholics (see Table 2.4 Wilson) and a bit more politically involved (probably goes with higher college education rates). The less observant MPs split their votes between Obama and McCain in 2008, but weekly attendees voted for McCain over Obama by 10 points. Is it their faith though? Not so much.

II. Religious Left (Liberals) A. Theological differences with Mainline (the middle) and

evangelicals (the right). Look at Table 3.3m p.66 in Wilson

B. Political differences – table 3.4 (p. 68); religious liberalism leads to political liberalism for this group

C. Potential for a New Christian Left? Difficult…1. Theological disunity or incohesion - Principle difference

between the Religious Right and Left: The Religious Right believes in objectively revealed Truth, the Religious Left does not. As a starting principle, the Religious Left accepts theologically the notion that Truth is not and can not be objectively known (except, perhaps, the tiny little group of evangelicals in it). If it is not objectively known and if everyone has their own version…

of it and if these versions must be equally weighted for pluralism’s sake (highest value), then how can a unified policy position, agenda, crusade ever be marked out? Pluralism trumps conviction and may leave the movement without a leg to stand on (NYT article). “We are a religious voice.” Okay, what does that voice say? Uh, I don’t know, I don’t want to speak for anyone or impose my values on others or say that someone else is wrong or that I am right…The NCR is united around a common authority, the scriptures (or a God who speaks infallibly). What authority unites the RL? Indeed, a theological tenet of liberalism is the rejection of any common objective authority in theology.

2. Weak institutional structure; The institutional structure (churches) that so helped the NCR get off the ground and stay in the air just isn’t there among the RL. Mainliners are not as liberal as their leaders and the # of churchgoing blacks is falling or joining white evangelical churches. Couple that with low attendance among whites and you do not have the institutional resources the NCR did for starting up and staying afloat.

3. Tension with seculars in DEM leadership and among activists. Number of seculars, atheists, agnostic, and other unaffiliated has increased dramatically over the last 30 years (roughly doubled from 8-16, though some dispute here). % of seculars in DEM party activists considerably higher. Modern liberals may say: have we not always insisted that religion should not be our guide/motive in politics?

4. Lack of religious influence over political ideology (Kohut reports that 31% of people cite religious beliefs as connected to their political conservatism, 6% connect it with political liberalism). This is especially true on the non-cultural or social issues like welfare.

These have led many strategists to suggest that Dems “give up” on the “Sunday vote” and be careful to solidify the left’s most loyal and promising constituent groups (racial minorities, the unmarried, especially unmarried women, the lowest on the socio-economic ladder, and seculars, atheists, and other unaffiliated). Somewhat parallel situation between the GOP and blacks.

B. Hope for it? Why?• African-Americans – no significant sign of changing loyalties. This group

is the second most likely to cite religious beliefs as a motivating factor for their political preferences.

• Mainliners are not necessarily a spent force in politics. They may be divided today politically (and theologically in terms of laity vs leadership), but they still represent a formidable potential religious political group with vast resources, a strong history of “social gospel” and political engagement (Walter Rauschenbusch), and an established institutional structure in place.

• Catholics are not firmly in the GOP camp, even traditional ones. Their support for the GOP can hardly be considered unconditional. They are relatively new supporters and may change; GOP support for policies out of accord with Rome may lead Catholics back home (War, social services, death penalty, etc.).