Republicans and Christianity: Can a Political Party Own a Religion?

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Many scholars make the claim that religion and politics are so closely intertwined that it almost impossible to separate the two; the idea that the break in church in state really is not a break, but a bond. If one agrees with that, then which party closely resembles a religious ideal? There must be one party that can make the mass of religious participants happy with their public policy. There are many people that would support the idea that the Republicans as a whole are more supportive of what many religious people want. This is where the phrase of “religious right” comes from. Is it possible for just one political party to hold all the cards when it comes to something as big as Christianity? If so, what power does this wield?
The most important aspect to consider is why political parties split when it comes to religious battles in the first place. Glaeser (2005) starts this argument by explaining that when you attract the median-voter there is always a high voting turnout. If this is true, then why do politicians take both ends of the spectrum in most cases when it comes to issues like same-sex marriage and abortions? Glaeser (2005) contends that there are statistical evidence that supports the connection between religious attendance and religious extremism. Exit polls from the 2004 Presidential election show a strong rise in the correlation between religious attendance and party affiliation. This happens because religion as a whole becomes a medium for discussion, much like major news organizations. The only difference is that religion is singular in its method, as Glaeser (2005) points out, in that the people focus on one issue and decide politically based on the preferences shown. The political parties differ for two majo...

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...Quarterly , 71, 146-149.

Glaeser E., Shapiro, J. M. Strategic Extremism: Why Republicans and Democrats Divide on Religious Values. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 120, 1283-1330.

Nederman, C. The Puzzling Case of Christianity and Republicanism: A Comment on Black. The American Political Science Review , 92, 913-918.

Pilbeam, B. The Tragedy of Compassionate Conservatism. Journal of American Studies, 44, 251.

Smith, R. M. “Our Republican Example”: The Significance of the American Experiments in Government in the Twenty-First Century. American Political Thought, 1, 101-128.

Snay, M. Review: WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON, GOD, WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?. Reviews in American History , 40, 83-87.

Waldrep, C. The Use and Abuse of the Law: Public Opinion and United Methodist Church Trials of Ministers Performing Same-Sex Union Ceremonies. Law and History Review, 30, 953-1005.

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