Religious Factor In American Political Life

Religious factor in American politics Bayan M. Al Momani History has its way in retelling events, but the truth is simple history adapts itself to time and place. History dispels the fact about religion and its relation to human daily life. Religion is more than being practiced in any place of worship; one just can't squeeze it in some designed structure where people perform acts of devotion, venerations, or religious study, as any encyclopedia defines places of worship. Places of worship sometimes play complex and varied roles: religious, social, cultural, political and economic. They are sometimes community centers.1 Religion accompanies people wherever go, consciously or not, people practice their religious beliefs and perceptions everyday of their life.

There are many stories about religious upheavals. In the 16 th century, Puritans had their reformist ideas; they demanded simpler Calvinist Protestant to replace Roman Catholicism. Their ideas threatened

to divide the people and to

undermine royal authority. When they immigrated to Massachusetts, their leader, John Winthrop, urged them to create a "city upon a hill" where they would live in a strict accordance with their religious beliefs and set an example for all of Christendom. They had their charter which guaranteed that the puritans would be the dominant political as well as religious force in the colony. 2 It was a puritan rule and not everyone liked it. It was rigid orthodoxy that made a young clergyman, named Roger Williams, challenge it. Williams objected colony's seizure of Indian lands and called for separating church and state. Anne Hutchinson was another dissenter; both they and their followers were banished.

Williams purchased land from an Indian, Rhode Island, in 1636. In 1644, a sympathetic puritan-controlled English parliament gave him the charter that

1.

conflicts over Mosques in Europe Policy issues and trends. Stefano Allievi. NEF initiative on religion and democracy in

Europe.p 20.

2 outline

of U.S. History. Bureau of international information programs. U.S. Department of State 2005. P 13

established Rhode Island as a distinct colony where complete separation of church and state as well as freedom of religion was practiced.3 The connection between religion and politics appears clearly with the new American republic religion, evangelicalism. During the years between the inaugurations of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, historians see "evangelicalism emerging as a kind of national church or national religion". The leaders and ordinary members of the "evangelical empire" of the 19th century were American patriots who subscribed to the views of the founders that religion was a "necessary spring" for republican government; they believed that there was an association between religion and patriotism.4 There was a widespread sentiment that in order to survive the United States needed a stronger federal government. The constitution Article VI, stated that "no religious Test shall ever be required as Qualification" for federal office holders. The constitution said nothing more about religion. Some Americans wanted the new instrument of government to give faith a larger role and there were others who feared that it would do so. 5 When the constitution was presented to the American public many complained that it contained no recognition of God mercies or even his existence.

The only "religious clause" in the document in Article Six was intended to defuse controversy by disarming potential critics who might claim religious discrimination in eligibility for public office. Still, the first two Presidents of the United States were patrons of religion. George Washington was an Episcopal vestryman, and John Adams described himself as "a church going animal." In his farewell address Washington called religion, as "a necessary spring of popular government. Adams claimed that religion and morality can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.6 United States is described as a melting pot, a country of immigrants. It is a super power, and Americans consider their country exceptional. Most immigrants to

3

outline of U.S History. P 14.

4 Religion and the founding of the American 5

Religion and the founding of American republic/religion and the federal government. Library of Congress.

6 Religion and the federal government, part 2.

America came from the British Isles, the most liberal of the European polities with the Netherlands. In religion, the majority adhered to various forms of Calvinism with its emphasis on both divine and secular contractual relationships. These greatly facilitated the emergence of a social order built on individual rights and social mobility.7 The religious factor in U.S. Presidential elections has been frequently analyzed. There is a study that dates this factor from 1960-1992. It found out that the religious cleavage has declined during the past nine presidential elections. The reason

is

the

reduction

in

support

for

Republican

candidates

among

denominationally liberal Protestants, where changing voting behavior is a function of their increasingly liberal views of social issues.8 Religious cleavage suggests two distinct ways in which religion can affect political behavior: at the level of specific religious groups and at the level of the religious cleavage as a whole.9 The study found the most important and single source of change in the relationship between religious group membership and political behavior relates to liberal Protestants' eroding support for Republican candidates.10 Religion is a heritage and a practice that is cherished by nations and individuals. When one runs for presidency he or she relies on their background that it would make them eligible to be elected. The background in question is either religious or involved in public service; one presidential candidate knew this rule and now tries to play by it. American elections 2016 are different in way that there is a controversial candidate. He addressed two issues that he knew how Americans think of their own country, exceptional. The United States is a country of immigrants from the British Isles and the religion is Calvinism, he paid attention to these two details which proves he is some business man. Before talking about religion Trump attacks immigrants mostly Mexicans and calls them "rapists." As a candidate for American presidency there is a word that is quiet annoying while listening to Julio Iglesias the Spanish singing legend responding to what Trump said.

7

Outline of American History. P.

8 9

The Religious Factor in U.S. Presidential Elections,1960-1992. Jeff Manza. P. 1 the Religious factor‌. P. 9

10

same source, p. 35.

Julio says he will no longer perform in Trump casinos. "He thinks he can fix the world forgetting what immigrants have done for his country. He is a clown! And my apologies to clowns. 11 Clown no doubt is annoying, but the word casino is quiet disturbing and intimidating when talking about someone running for presidency. So there must be another card to play, religion. The best choice is to rack another religion, forgetting that everything has two sides, black and white. In the case of religion people practicing it are the black and white here. To be reasonable you pay attention to these details, but when it comes to elections everything is possible.

Maybe ironically the best example is to watch "The campaign" to get the picture, how you can do anything to win.

Playing on people's fears pay, and Trump now is a possible nominee for the Republican Party, whether the Party likes it or not. Still, Trump is criticized by others, Rev Pamela Saturnia, pastor of the town of Muscatine's first Presbyterian Church, preached a message of healing and acceptance for "those who are the most unloved, the most discriminated against, the most forgetting in our community and in our world," including "Syrian refugees" and "Mexican immigrants," Trump sat silently. It appeared to be a direct criticism aimed at the candidate who called for a ban on all Muslim immigrants and has branded Mexicans who have come to America as "rapists."12 Religion in 2016 elections is obvious, candidates religious background is always checked, no doubt about it. The natural thing is that candidates are measured according to their community's norms, not other communities and religion. One comes across information that gives details about candidates entitled "Many 2016 presidential candidates have church-shopped." David Campbell said that candidates' church switching is "a nice reflection of contemporary American religion." Campbell continued that "voters recognize and accept it in the candidates, because they do it themselves or know people who have." These words from Campbell's, American Grace: How religion divides and unites us.13 And since religion or religion switching is 11 12

Julio says he will no longer perform in Trump Casinos. AFP October 7,2015.

US Election 2016: Donald Trump criticized in Iowa church over immigration policy. Mary Papenfuss, January 25,2016. 06:53 GMT. International Business Times.

13 Many 2016 presidential candidates have church-shopped. Rick Hampson USA Today, 9:56, august 31, 2015.

a natural thing, Pope Francis' first visit to U.S. will focus attention on the 2016 presidential candidates' religious background, many of which contain almost as many shifts as Mark Rubio's.14 Trump is the cancerous growth that suddenly alarms so many in the nation Republican and Democrat alike. Is it somehow our fault? If cancer is, to some degree, the disease of bad habits, then Trump is the cancer we all deserve. He is the product not of our politics but of our culture or, rather, the banishment of genuine culture from American civic life. It's easy to malign his supporters as angry simplistic rubes.

It's just as easy to forget that it wasn't Mississippi that made him famous, but Manhattan, the very one that routinely touts its cosmopolitan values. If cultural judgement is cultural imperialism, then who is to say that serving as the host of The Apprentice is less honorable that at Belleau wood? 15 These lines taken from a long article in Newsweek demonstrates in a way the inconspicuous situation the elections process is going through.

The same unclear conflict that the Republican Party is going through appears in these few lines, "today, there is a contest between Trumpism and Republicanism.

Through the calculated statements of its leader, Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence." Mitt Romney in a message posted to Facebook.16 It is an act of diplomacy no doubt that would make a country leader refrains from stating his opinion of another fellow leader, but not to a candidate. The Situation room with Wolf Blitzer, Blitzer asked King Abdullah of Jordan, "What's your reaction to Donald Trump saying that there should be a temporary ban on Muslims coming into the United States, until the U.S. can figure out what's going on?" the king's answer ignored Trump, so Blitzer followed up, asking the king for his position on the temporary ban on all Muslims, not just refugees from a few countries, the king stated, "you're into an election cycle, so I don't think it's fair for you to ask a foreign leader to express his opinion on candidates in your country running for 14 15

Many 2016 presidential candidates have church-shopped. Rick Hampson. USA Today.

Donald Trump candidate as cancer. Newsweek, Alexander Nazaryan.

16 Mitt Romney will vote for Ted Cruz in Utah.

Newsweek, Michele Gorman.

election."17 The king seems to be right not give an answer, just read the lines every day and see how things are developing and you will say that was a wise answer.

Things with Trump are violent; he simply refuses to condemn violence when it comes to his rallies. Senior figures in the Republican Party are openly plotting to prevent trump from becoming the nominee because they view him as insufficient conservative. Republican leaders said trump needs to more clearly discourage his supporters from engaging in violence. On the other hand, trump said the "professional agitators" bore much of the blame for violence at his rallies. He didn't back down from his warning that there would be riots in the streets if the Republican Party denied him the nomination for the November election. 18 "If we do nothing, say nothing, he could win," Nathan Leigh, a resident of New York City says, adding that he sees a "newly emergent fascist movement". He was one of the few thousand demonstrators gathered and marched in New York City for four hours on Saturday afternoon, march 19, 2016, to protest Donald Trump's presidential candidacy. Many protesters held signs alluded to comment what Trump has made since declaring his candidacy last June. "Build tolerance, not walls" and "Don't let bigotry Trump our constitution." 19 The American elections by all means American issue and being a super power it became an international interest. So how things are going to be, I guess everyone is just going to wait and see. Not that to some part of the world the expectations are high, it is the ongoing question are things going to be worse or slightly better?

17 18 19

The Situation room with Wolf Blitzer. By Ian Hanchett: 13 Jan, 2016.

Trump refuses to condemn violence at his rallies: Newsweek. Reuters.

Thousands in New York City protest Trump. Michele Gorman. March 20, 2016. Newsweek.