Posted on 06/15/2005 3:10:38 PM PDT by Heartofsong83
ANTHONY WESTELL: We need separation of church and politics CBC News Viewpoint | June 15, 2005 | More from Anthony Westell
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony Westell was Globe and Mail bureau chief in Ottawa, 1964-69, and later a national affairs columnist for the Toronto Star.
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Does the public profession of religious faith have a role to play in democratic politics? The question becomes more relevant by the week as avowed Christian evangelists capture Conservative nominations across the country.
Such candidates have long been familiar in the so-called Bible Belt areas of Alberta and B.C., where fundamentalist churches are well established. Now they are appearing around major cities, including Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax, where churches have usually been more conventional, which is to say liberal, in theology.
Why the fundamentalist version of Christianity should be enjoying a revival in North America is an interesting and important question in itself. My view, for what it's worth, is that it's post-materialist, in the sense that people sated with material possessions have discovered they don't bring contentment and are looking for other satisfactions.
However that may be, a religious message that speaks dramatically and with absolute certainty is gaining converts and moving aggressively into politics in Canada.
Following the hugely successful tactics perfected by evangelical organizations in the U.S., Canadian pastors are mobilizing their congregations of true believers around so-called Christian issues, first to win party nominations and then, they hope, elections.
The most notable faith-based politician, of course, is U.S. President George W. Bush, a declared born-again follower of Jesus. Evangelicals have been crucial in both his election victories – some say, the decisive factor.
In Canada, evangelicals are still a minor factor, but apparently growing rapidly in influence. Their strength is in their solidarity, their absolute conviction that they are political warriors for God who, speaking through the Bible or directly to them when they pray, tells them what political policies to support and which to oppose.
Bush claims to be guided by Jesus when he makes political decisions, including, presumably, the decision to go to war in Iraq.
Such conviction is beyond debate, which is why I think that public declarations of faith should have no place in politics. Democracy is all about debate on policy, about the best way to define and solve problems and advance the public interest.
When there is no possibility of persuading an opponent who claims to know the will of God the process becomes pointless. Who can debate with God? As Bush might say, you are either with Him or against Him. And if you're against him you must favour the other guy. Thus political opponents are politely demonized.
But to say that public declarations of faith have no place in politics is not to say that values derived from religion are not admissible. They are and always have been.
The point is that faith alone cannot be a sufficient reason to demand that government permit this or forbid that. If there is to be useful debate there have to be practical arguments unrelated to religious belief. After all, not everyone believes in the same god, or any god.
Many, probably most, Christians in Canada do not read the Bible as a literal instruction from God, and are not confident that He is giving them daily political direction.
Also, beliefs change. Today's faith may be tomorrow's heresy. Today's right-wing Christians view socialism as the Devil's doctrine yet one of the fathers of socialism in Canada, the late Tommy Douglas, was a Baptist minister before entering politics – and conceiving our beloved medicare. It used to be said that socialism in Britain owed more to Methodism than to Marx.
Pierre Trudeau was a Roman Catholic and declared his faith in an interview with a Protestant magazine, The United Church Observer: "I believe in life after death. I believe in God. I am a Christian."
His faith was more profound than most observers, including religious retreats and maintaining a sophisticated dialogue with theologians. But he also insisted that his faith could not direct his political policies in a multicultural and secular society.
Thus, in defiance of his church, he liberalized divorce and abortion, and removed from the Criminal Code homosexuality between consenting adults. Such matters might be sinful, he said, but they were not criminal.
Political evangelicals today organize around a few hot-button issues: opposition to abortion, homosexuality and same-sex marriage. All, they say, are forbidden by God and should therefore be made illegal. They are serious issues but to base the case on one religious faith is not only unpersuasive but close to undemocratic.
And, incidentally, pointless because it is the Supreme Court, not Parliament, that decides such matters.
Actually, it is kind of nice to go to Church on Sunday and concentrate on/commune with the Savior rather than the weekly issues and grind.
That doesn't mean that issues like abortion and the like don't get discussed, but what cantidate we're going to vote for does not dominate the Bible study.
That's true, but what does he know? He (like most hardcore liberals) are trying to use Christians as a scapegoat these days...
>> We need separation of church and politics
What Canada really needs is the separation of secularism and politics, as the U.S. Founding Fathers envisioned for the United States. In other words, kick all those sorry marxists out of your nation, ban all leftist organizations, and rewrite your constitution to encourage Christianity. The United States, likewise, except for the last clause. The U. S. Consitution already encourages Christianity.
That's true, but what does he know? He (like most hardcore liberals) are trying to use Christians as a scapegoat these days...
Yes, I don't like the attacks against Christians either. BUT we like to scapegoat them too (though it's probably true in the latter).
I get leery sometimes of government being forced into churches such as when they were going to force churches to be nondiscriminatory with sexual orientation and religion in hiring people.
It's amazing how they distort messages. Then people turn aroung and start quoting Bush "verbatim" based on these editorials. Ridiculous!
turn aroung and start quoting Bush "verbatim" based on these editorials
It always happens.
How true!!!
Agreed, but there is no such thing as separation of religious beliefs and politics. Your politics are a reflection of your religious beliefs.
Your politics are a reflection of your religious beliefs.
It is chiefly that and more including our values, our experiences, our attitudes and perceptions, our interactions, etc. Yes, I know some of those are religious too.
The CBC makes most of your MSM look conservative...they aren't nicknamed the "Communist Broadcasting Corporation" for nothing...
Could someone please explain to this dingbat that his beloved Her Majesty Queen of Canada is the titular head of the Church of England, and by default the Anglican Church of Canada constitutionally enjoys the primacy recognized by the government?
Before he talks about separating church and politics, perhaps he should consider the monarchy and the Anglican Church of Canada's position in Canadian constitution.
This guy is a lunatic. Fundamentalist Christian churches? Their ain't such a thing anywhere in Canada, unless he is talking about those that have gay or lesbian preachers.
He's deliberately spouting hate speach, and should be charged under Canada's hate laws.
They are anti heterosexual, pro gay, anti U.S, pro
communist, anti majority, pro minority. Sympathetic
to the French and like to think they are the saviours
of world hunger and the oppressed.
A more sickening bunch never existed, and they are funded
by the government.
Just another reason (and the list gets longer everyday) why I am beginning to hate my home and native land. The
Veterans would be ashamed and would not have fought for
what Canada and agencies like the CBC stand for today.
Ask a veteran..a real veteran...you'll see.
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