Religion is an essential aspect of human existence. It refers to the reverence of a supernatural being. The statement suggests that religious individuals maintain relationships with the superhuman they believe is their creator and protector. Although many religions are centered on supernatural powers, revelations, cultural beliefs and values, some do not consider these aspects. Despite these differences, most people regard it as a way of life. Just like any other system in the world, religion has changed over time. This explains why religious diversity is dependent on societal issues and different cultures. In addition, the current religious sphere is affected by government, politics and educational institutions. Several constitutions across the globe allow religions the freedom to practice their faith without disruption. As such, all regions in the world, including Africa, Europe and America, practice their faith with support from the government. The major religions practised globally are Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Although the institution continues to affect aspects of humanity, most governments have limited the roles religion plays in public spheres and, specifically, politics. An example is the 1947 Everson v. Board of Education verdict that stated that the government and faith-based institutions should be treated as separate entities (Dreisbach, 2006). Therefore, the essay argues that faith groups and institutions should be allowed to form political parties and actively participate in the government to represent their views and values.
There are several reasons why it is essential to allow faith-based institutions to be involved in politics and the government. Firstly, the participation of these institutions enhances the moral and ethical aspects of society. Religions play critical roles in shaping various aspects of human existence, including values and norms. In most religions, members are taught about the moral and ethical practices that should guide their behaviors. In addition, these teachings determine how the members co-exist with others in society. When these faith-based groups participate in government and politics, they are likely to advocate for policies that perpetuate their moral and ethical standards. Such occurs since these individuals recognize the importance of these aspects in their lives and those of the members. Therefore, they emphasize the issues that align with their morals, ethics and values. These entail dealing with issues such as eradicating poverty, mitigating criminal activities and protecting human rights. When such happens, changes that benefit specific individuals in need are implemented. For example, when faith-based groups with members who are poverty-stricken are allowed to participate in public spheres, they are likely to advocate for policies that assist marginalized communities by providing necessities. With such actions, factors that perpetuate inequalities are addressed, leading to a happy and contented society. In addition, since faith-based groups are guided by religious teachings such as the Bible, they foster a compassionate and fair society like the one that existed during the times of Jesus. The statement resonates with the assertion of Sacks (2005) that through compassionate deeds, religious individuals can make a difference in the lives of those in need, especially in an era where the world is filled with uncertainty.
Secondly, allowing faith-based organizations to participate in public spheres such as the government and politics is beneficial for protecting freedom of religion. All religions have made tremendous efforts to maintain their rights to practice what they believe in without disruption from any system imposed by the government or other entities. Leaders also acknowledge the existence of these rights as stipulated by Jefferson when he states, “be assured that your religious rights shall never be infringed by any act of mine and that” (Jefferson, 1802). The statement indicates that the leader understands that religious entities have the right to practice what they believe in, and thus, his works would not interfere with their activities. Although later in the text, he crosses out these words and states that the government is prohibited from respecting religion, his first utterances suggest that faith-based groups have rights. Religious leaders can protect their rights by engaging in political activities since it allows them to advocate for laws and policies that ensure that members are given the freedom to practice what they believe. In addition, advocating for regulations to protect the freedom of these individuals allows the government to accommodate them in various sectors without disadvantaging them through different actions. Examples of these regulations entail mandatory protection of religious groups, freedom to express their beliefs without disruptions and giving individuals employment leave to practice religious rituals when needed. These actions enable faith-based institutions to protect themselves from potential infringement of rights by groups who do not understand their religion. In addition, it allows religious individuals to preserve their identity in society for the sake of future generations.
Thirdly, when faith-based organizations engage in political initiatives, they advocate for policies that promote charity and social welfare. Religions across the globe play essential roles in assisting poverty-stricken and marginalized communities. These actions date back to the ancient periods when religious institutions helped those in need, and in 1800, these initiatives gave rise to the Charity Organization Society based in the United Kingdom (Smith-Carrier, 2020). Thus, religious centres became refugees as needy individuals began visiting them to obtain necessities. As time went by, changes occurred, and hence, charity and social welfare were transformed, and straightforward approaches were incorporated to streamline these initiatives. In modern society, faith-based groups conduct these initiatives through charitable organizations such as World Vision in the United States and other regions in the world, such as Africa. Thus, churches, mosques and other religious centres partner with other agencies to support disadvantaged individuals. Some of the programs provided by these organizations entail education, health and housing services. These programs are fundamental in eradicating poverty, injustice and discrimination. Those in need often consider these services their beacon of hope. Therefore, when faith-based institutions engage in politics, they will advocate for policies to support these initiatives. With support from the government, the underlying causes of poverty will be eradicated, thus improving the quality of life for people. In his study, Sacks (2005) considers these responsibilities as those which change the lives of individuals positively.
Fourthly, faith-based institutions should engage in politics to mitigate issues that affect humanity and promote interconnectedness among individuals across the globe. These issues entail the prosecution of individuals based on religious affiliation. As stipulated in previous studies, all humans have the right to practice the religion they believe in. However, some nations restrict citizens to only one religion (Drelichman et al., 2021). One of these nations is Saudi Arabia. When faith-based institutions in such a nation engage in politics, they advocate for policies that eradicate discrimination, prosecution based on religious affiliation and actions that restrict their expression of beliefs. In addition, these individuals can tackle issues such as humanitarian crises that affect individuals across the globe. Such occurs since the aim of most religions is to ensure that individuals lead meaningful lives without pain. Typically, when a person leads a healthy life without challenges such as humanitarian crises, they are likely to be productive, practice their faith peacefully and make a difference in the lives of others. In addition, by advocating for policies to mitigate humanitarian crises, funds and donations may be raised to support the course. These initiatives bring people together, thus enhancing communication and interconnectedness. Besides, these groups can address religious conflicts in political spheres. When such issues are addressed, the government can call for dialogues to foster understanding. Therefore, faith-based groups can conduct their activities without fear of tensions in the ever-changing world.
Lastly, faith-based organizations can participate in politics to advance their agendas. Religion is a system just like any other, with agendas that align with the beliefs and values of the members. These individuals can, therefore, actively participate in political spheres to advance their agendas in various ways. One strategy for achieving this initiative is through advocating for policies that support their religious values. The second approach is forming coalitions with other organizations with similar agendas to promote issues concerning social justice and eradicating poverty. These individuals can also use their political influence to organize outreaches and seminars to teach populations about their religious beliefs and values. In such instances, they may attract several congregants who will spread the goodwill of their religion and also aid in their initiatives, such as charity and social work, with the aim of improving the lives of citizens. Besides, once these individuals join the political space, they can engage in global forums by collaborating with charity organizations. Such opportunities allow religious institutions to make a difference and advocate for their beliefs and values.
In conclusion, religion remains to be an essential component of humanity. However, the government continues to limit their participation in public spheres. Despite these restrictions, faith-based organizations should be allowed to participate in politics and the government for various reasons. Firstly, their participation enhances the moral and ethical teachings of religions by incorporating them into the implemented policies. Secondly, these individuals can safeguard the rights of religious groups by advocating for policies that protect their practices. Thirdly, engagement in politics supports their initiatives, including charity and social welfare. Lastly, their participation enhances social cohesion and advances their religious agendas. These pieces of evidence demonstrate the benefits of involving religion in public spheres such as government and politics.
References
Dreisbach, D. (2006). The mythical” wall of separation.” How a misused metaphor changed church-state law, policy, and discourse. The Heritage Foundation.
Drelichman, M., Vidal-Robert, J., & Voth, H. J. (2021). The long-run effects of religious persecution: Evidence from the Spanish Inquisition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(33), e2022881118.
Jefferson, T. (1802). Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists.
Sacks, J. (2005). To heal a fractured world: The ethics of responsibility. Schocken.
Smith-Carrier, T. (2020). Charity isn’t just, or always charitable: Exploring charitable and justice models of social support. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 5(3), 157-163.
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