Pious Politicians: A contradictio in terminis?
February 5th, 2010 § 2 Comments
Second thoughts about the influence of religion on public discourse or – even worse – its involvement in politics? Enough of politicians who drag God into the picture (usually to defend their own position)? Not so fast. In the secularized societies of the West mixing religion with state affairs may be anathema. But there were other times. Much of the history of Europe has enfolded under the influence of Christianity. Professor of Church History at Bethel Seminary, Chris Armstrong, provides some evidence from history for the beneficial effects of religion on politics on his blog Grateful To The Dead. Religious motives may help kings, politicians and other rulers realize there is a power above them to which they are accountable. It may help them to wield their authority more scrupulously and provide altruistic motives otherwise hard to find. Read the posts here and here.
Well that’s one way of getting credits.
You get the point ;-)