Religious Fundamentalism and Anti-Democratic Orientation Religion and Politics 12 November 2006.

Religious Fundamentalism and Anti-Democratic Orientation

Religion and Politics 12 November 2006

Overview

Six readings First and second – Christian right and

extremism Third - Judaism as example of all

religions naturally leading to extremism Fourth – Stability through

institutionalization – Belgium Fifth and sixth – Minority/majority status

and religions within society

Christian Violence in America – Mark Juergensmeyer

Millennium Thinking Iran Japan India US

Story of Reverend Bray – Lutheran Minister

Equate America with Nazi Germany – elimination of a class of citizens – the unborn

Bonhoffer – hanged by Nazis Niebuhr - Just War Theory – Fulfill

social Justice – realist A capture of Niebuhr

Dominion Theology – Van Til,\Rushdoony,

Gary North, Greg Bahnsen

Creation mandate – subdue the earth and populate

New Testament – Matthew 2820 ”and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Jesus)

Christian Identity Eric Rudolph – Atlanta Timothy McVeigh – Oklahoma City Ruby Ridge Aryan nation Fear Jewish takeover – true Jews are Anglo

Saxon (Issac’s Sons)– like Jesus/ Freemasons

Lost Sheep of the House of Israel – Apocalyptic

Nature of violence

Destructive Display of Power Incidents of power on God’s behalf Compel to obedience Re-establish order

Popular Christianity and Political Extremism in the United States – James Aho (Smith chapter 9)

Extremism includes – efforts to deny civil rights to certain

people thwarting attempts by other to organize

in opposition to us not playing according to legal and

constitutional rules of political fairness (idea of organic constitution)

American Right Wing Extremism –

Manichaenism – world divided into warring principles of absolute good and veil

Populism – citizenry would align with good except uninformed of present eveil

Conspiracy – forces of evil have a scheme of control

Anti-modernism – progressive movement is institutionalism of this conspiracy

Apocalypticism – the end is coming

Every thirty years an upsurge in America

1790s – Federalist Party activists – opposed Illumanti-Illuminati

1830s – The Masonic Lodge 1890s – Papist and Jesuits 1920s – Hidden Hand 1950s – The Insiders of Force X 1980s – Trilateral

Society/Rockerfellerians

Several parallels

Secret societies in their own right (Ku Klux Klan)

No connection with economic turns Christian Preachers have been

instrumental

Christian Extremists Religious Pedigrees – Reformation heritage/Reformed/Baptist/fundamentalist Beliefs – Total human depravity America a chosen people Covenant theology and the right to revolt (strict

covenant to be chosen people) 2 Chron 7:14 if my people who are called by my

name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (national mission)

Millennialism (Hal Lindsey Late Great Planet Earth, recently – Left Behind series – Tim Lahaye)

Anti-Semitism

Practice Christianity is more than adhering to a

particular doctrine – it is to live righteously No two realm cosmology Calvin’s Geneva – Organization – social network theory – John Frame – Christianity as Philosophy – pg

32 – Rushdoony – Thy Kingdom Come – pg 194 Christian Nation Samuel Rutherford –

Samuel Rutherford – 1600-1661 Lex, Rex was, after the Restoration, burned by the

common hangman, and led to the citation of the author for high treason, which his death prevented from taking effect. It presented a theory of limited government and constitutionalism that laid the foundation for later political philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke and thus for modern political systems such as that of the United States. He advocates a rule by law rather than rule by men and discusses such concepts as the separation of powers and the covenant, a precursor to the social contract. His chief fame, however, rests upon his spiritual and devotional works, such as Christ Dying and drawing Sinners to Himself, but especially upon his Letters, which display a fervour of feeling and a rich imagery which, while highly relished by some, repel others.

Legitimation Problems in the Modern State - Habermas The state does not, it is true, itself establish

the collective identity of the society; nor can it itself carry out social integration through values and norms, which are not at its disposition. But inasmuch as the state assumes the guarantee to prevent social disintegration by way of binding decisions, the exercise of state power is tied to the claim of maintaining society in its normatively determined identify. The legitimacy of state power is then measured against this; and it must be recognized as legitimate if it is to last. (112)

Extremism as a Religious Norm – Charles S. Liebman

Religion claims absolute truth about ultimate reality

Gains adherents Supplies the “right way” Religion can evaluate culture and forms of

truth in terms of religious truth Religious commitment is total commitment

– religious behavior is moral behavior

Definition –by dimension First – Expansion of Religious law - halakha

Scope – from public to family to private (includes social institutions) Elaboration of the Details of the Law – centralized control Strictness versus leniency in interpretation – strict being imposition of

restrictions and hardships Second – Social Isolation –

May be physical isolation May be emotional isolation – intense evangelism

Third – Cultural Rejection – rejection of cultural forms and values that are not perceived as indigenous to the religious tradition Modern thought Modern science Modern entertainment Modern education

Extremism cannot exist in reality – The Shakers The norm – Religious Extremism – The abnormal – Religious liberalism or moderation –

this needs explanation Extremism is restrained when religion is an organic part

of the society diffused throughout its institutions. To survive it must compromise and avoid isolation but adapt

Successful religion confers status and material benefits on its leaders an attracts to its ranks individuals with self interested motivations, orientation and propensities inconsistent with extremism

Religion is not unidimensional attracts those inconsistent with extremist orientations

Three models –

First – interprets tradition in light of contemporary culture or values

Second – contemporary culture or values are to be understood in light of tradition

Third – Separation – compartmentalizes life into Jewish and universalist realms

Democracy and Religious Politics, Evidence from Belgium

Religious Politics inimical to democratic development highly ideological aliberal, antisecular

Certain contexts can foster cooperation between religious politics and democratic development

Belgium proved to be an excellent example of cooperation between religious entities and the democratic process


Why Belgium? Three reasons for success:

political shift negatively affecting religious actors (moderate political insiders)

existence of competitive institutions (radical grassroots outsiders)

centralized religious structure (a centralized church) Four Reasons to study it:

religious cleavage coupled with religious mobilization ideological preference for an aliberal/nondemocratic

regime competitive political institutions democratic consolidation


Historical Catholicism, perfect antithesis for Democracy opposed to political liberalism, democracy freedom of speech, conscience, religion, and press the doctrine of progress separation of church and state

Why did it fail to establish a “Church State” in Belgium? unable to run countries in which it was the "subculture“ if anything, helped to provide stabilization? how? (never

really explained) modernization in Europe lead to a movement away from

church-run governments (theocracy to true democracy)


Belgium, historical background revolt in 1830 liberals and conservatives formed a "union" liberals started to sap power from church, this lead to

partisan politics resulted in the advent of a "true" catholic party (the

Ultramontanes) Political Actors

the Church (instrumental in the creation of the state) the Ultramontanes (highly conservative sect,

interested in restoration of the "Christian Society") the Conservatives (moderates in their position, more

accepting of the state as was)


Conflict election of 1878, liberals win push church out of school related affairs diplomatic breaks with the Vatican occurred (1880) Ultramontanes pushed in 1878 elections (Catholique

et Politique) Ultramontanes wanted the "catholic restoration of the

conservative party" defeat of conservatives pushed for stronger bid for

"pure catholic party" conservatives asked for Vatican intervention but were

denied


Outcome Conservatives were embraced with the decision of

Leo XIII to not attack Belgium's constitution end of Ultramontanes party signaled a more moderate approach to the treatment

between church and state consolidation between both parties

Rethinking Protestantism and Democratic Consolidation in Latin America

Protestantism is said to be having a positive affect on political climates material and economic culture political culture

Defining Democracy universal adult franchise freely contested competitive elections absence of significant reserved powers recognition of liberal rights and freedoms


Pentecostals in Brazil Egalitarianism strict adherence to moral principles non-violence "clean break" from traditional culture roles

external validity comes into question one group in one country

Hope in Brazil? Is it possible for there to be a shift away from the

more authoritarian view of religion in South America?


Peasants in Chile Protestantism found to be reinforcing traditional roles new source of paternalistic authority Protestantism therefore provides a new set of symbols

and signs to combat the "changing social structure" Protestantism’s Effects

latent changes in South America Democratization will come capitalism to go hand in hand with liberalism,

democracy? Protestantism > entrepreneurial spirit > capitalism >

democratic stability


Hope in Brazil Pentecostals, tend to be clientist

open embrace of religious freedom mirror-images of democratizing factors seen in

government The Future?

The spread of Democracy or the co-habitation of religious communities and governmental structures seem very imminent in Latin America

Religious Minorities and Support for Immigrant Rights in the United States, France, and Germany

Religious and Social Minorities tend to sympathize with one another influence both political and social thought case study of Jewish attraction to political left

Surveys were conducted in: France Germany The United States


Variables (in addition to whether or not respondent was in the social or political minority): Education Income Religious Preference

Will religious preference play a role in view toward minorities and immigrant rights?


In the United States: Yes, Minority Status leads to Minority Support (both

religiously and socially) Who exactly supports minorities?

Jews Catholics (independent of being Hispanic) Those with No Religion

In Germany and France: Similar results as those in the United States

White Protestants, however, shown to be the exception

Question Do you think given the recent power shift in Congress

that a more moderate core within the Republican Party will strive to move away from the Religious Right (a la the Ultramontanes) to try and reconcile the power it lost in the 2006 elections?

Question Is it possible that the movement away from more

religiously dominated governments could be a direct cause of some other variable besides improving social conditions?

Do you think that this in any way ties back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Question Collectively, minorities (social and political) can stand

to gain a lot from working with one another in a hostile environment. Can you cite any potential drawbacks to this strategy? How could groups combat any unforeseen drawbacks?

Religious Fundamentalism and Anti-Democratic Orientation Religion and Politics 12 November 2006.

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Transcript of Religious Fundamentalism and Anti-Democratic Orientation Religion and Politics 12 November 2006.