Religion and Society Seminar

Group 1

The Political Importance of Religion

Seminar Preparation

Religious fundamentalists tend to argue that religious principles are non-negotiable and that we need to live according to these enduring and unchanging values. Fundamentalists argue that religion is not merely a personal matter but something that touches all parts of our lives. Because of this, religion is truly ideological and political. For the fundamentalist, the social and political system needs to be redesigned in accordance with religious principles.Using the sites below, outline the reasons why some people believe that religion is politically significant and consider the following question:

To what extent is religion ‘politically significant’?

You can choose from two selections:

Selection 1[1]

A small statement categorising three ways that religion may enter into politics; note that this was written in 1993 so no examples of Islamic fundamentalism are used.

In a brief article Tony Blair’s attitude to aspects of religion is shown to range from a ‘bit unhealthy’ to ‘very important’.

This American website supports all religions (an ‘inter-faith’ or ‘multi-faith’ approach) and for the 2004 elections it collected together links to encourage people of each faith to vote, including even ‘13 Reasons Why Pagans Should Vote’.

Faithworks is a UK Christian organisation; look around their website which includes brief statements on the mainstream Christian attitude to some social and political issues.

An American website for the ‘religious left’ calls for religion to motivate radical political involvement.

One more Christian website, but this from the fundamentalist right. They hold extreme views on many political issues from homosexual law reform to Iraq.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission is a moderate UK based organisation, look around this website and you will notice that the ‘war on terror’ and ‘Islamophobia’ dominates current issues for Muslims.

The Muslim Public Affairs Committee includes more ‘radical’ Muslim opinion on social and political issues, but interesting replies are published below each article, from Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Many Communist governments challenge religious organisations as obsolete, useless and parasitical on society; here the Chinese president apparently offers a compromise to please both sides, while subtly warning-off any opposition from religious groups. (NB: If a message pops up referring to Chinese language characters, just click cancel and the website should display properly).

This magazine, published for over 100 years, sees religious dogma as ‘bunkum’ and campaigns for the removal of its influence in public life.

If you have decided that religion is best kept out of politics, take some time to read this thoughtful essay by British author Richard Webster.

Selection 2[2]

Haynes, J. (2003), Religion, fundamentalism and ethnicity: a global perspective, [Online]. Available: [2005, 13th November]

Using a global perspective highlights the importance of religion in different countries and also discusses the political importance of this.

Mansueto, A. (2005), The political significance of the papacy, [Online]. [2005, 13th November]

This article discusses in detail how the papacy has political power and examines also how it has achieved this.

(2005), Blair shuns US politics, [Online]. Available: [2005, 13th November]

This is an article from BBC news that argues how religion and politics go hand in hand in America but that it is not to be the same approach in England.

Domke, D. (2004), Politics to form world view, [Online]. Available:

[2005, 13th November]

This is another recent article that discusses the way in which president bush has used religion in order to form a world view and how it is used in his everyday politics.

Meacham, J. (2005), Religion and politics in America, [Online]. Available:

[2005, 13th November]

This is again, another article examining the political significance of religion in American politics.

Morel, L. (2005), Should Christians say ‘amen’ to religious politics?, [Online]. Available: [2005, 13th November]

This is an article arguing the idea that religion should no longer be used as a basis for politics.

(2005), Politics of religion. [Online]. Available: [2005,13th November]

This article examines the politics behind religion in terms of Islamic issues.

Fannelli, B. (2005), God’s Politics. [Online]. Available: [2005, 13th November]

This article firstly describes that religious fundamentalist is wrong but then goes on to promote how Christianity should be used to influence politics.

(2005) The resurgence of religion in politics. [Online]

[2005,13th November]

This is a council website that has several links to articles that deal with issues surrounding religion and politics.

Page, S. (2005), Shaping politics from the pulpits.[Online]. Available:

[2005,13th November]

This articles deals with many of the issues and arguments that America faces with modern day politics and the influence.

[1] This selection was compiled by students at Sheffield Hallam University

[2] This selection was compiled by students at Sheffield Hallam University