Politics and Religion: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly and my thoughts

I recently heard someone make the comment that people need to keep their religion out of politics. When I heard this, I had a feeling that this individual was specifically speaking to Christians. Growing up, I heard on a regular basis that one does not discuss religion or politics as they often lead to conflict and damage relationships. However, by not discussing religion and politics and trying to leave religion out of politics we are teaching ourselves to avoid conflict rather than dealing with it peacefully and rationally. I decided to look into politics and religion: the good, the bad and the ugly. The intersection of politics and religion has a complex history from ethical guidance to deep conflict and violent altercations. After some research from both religious and non-religious perspectives, I will present a history of politics, religion and the American founding, as well as the good, bad and ugly when one mixes politics and religion and my own personal thoughts. 

Religious beliefs played a significant role in the political life of the United States. Many of the founding fathers fell into one of four categories: Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational and Unitarianism/Deism. However, the founding fathers did not set out to create a Christian nation; however, they were not secularists who intended to shut out religion (Frazer, no date). Many Americans will repeat the phrase “the separation of church and state” to indicate that we are not to mix politics and religion. However, this phrase does not mean what many people think it does. It is the belief that government involvement in the church would corrupt the church, not the church involved in government. First, the concept was first used among early Baptists in America in 1644. Roger Williams, a Baptist minister, founder of the state of Rhode Island and the First Baptist Church in America wrote “a wall or hedge of separation between the ‘wilderness of the world’ and ‘the garden of the church’” (Ryman & Alcorn, 2023). The most famous use of the phrase was written by Thomas Jefferson in a 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association. Second, the phrase “the separation of church and state” is not in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. Many individuals will cite the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment that the separation of church and state was implied. The Establishment Clause states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. In other words, the government cannot make or endorse an official religion. It is to keep government out of the church but not keep the church (i.e. believers) out of government. 

The Good that results with the mix of politics and religion. First, moral compass and justice. Micah 6:8 says “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?” Moral codes of conduct have been adopted by governments around the world. Rules which guide what is wrong and what is right. Second, community and charity. Practicing Christians are the most charitable people in the nation and not just to their churches but to religious and non-religious charities (Chandler, 2024). Many of the pioneer social reformers were driven by their faiths. Jane Addams, cofounder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago, Illinois, was influenced by the works of Charles Dickens and advocated for better programs for the poor women and children. As a member of the Presbyterian church, she would spend her life being a voice to those who were powerless and became a prominent social reformer. Third, moral courage. Religion and moral courage are deeply intertwined as faith provides a foundation for strength and the ethical framework to act in the face of social pressures or danger. Proverbs 28:1 says “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Paul encouraged Timothy as he faced opposition, reminding him that God gives us a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Bad about the mix of politics and religion is politicized religion. Politicized religion is when religion becomes increasingly marred in partisan politics (Campbell, 2020) as young Americans are abandoning religion when they see it as an extension of politics they do not agree with. Politicized religion also leads to polarization and tribalism which fosters division and prejudice. I have seen in the last decade as more and more people automatically hate or ridicule another group simply because of one’s affiliation with a church or a religion. “What do you expect she’s…” enter the chosen group. This type of tribalism also leads to opposition to compromise. With politicized religion, a growing divide between secularist and the religious. It becomes a us versus them mentality with little or no move to try to work with the other group. It becomes more about group identity than anything else. It becomes “if you aren’t with us, you are against us.” I don’t know how many times I have seen someone shocked to learn that someone else doesn’t think or believes something simply because of a given group identity. For example, many people think Latino automatically means liberal and Catholic or Middle Eastern and Muslim. Also, there is a growing trend in America where certain political individuals hijack Jesus and attempt to mold him into their ideology in order to validate their views and gain support. The most prominent example of this politicized religion is seen in Progressive Christianity. 

The Ugly about the mix of politics and religion is the weaponization of religion. According to Kathryn Echle (2023), there are three characteristics of weaponization religion. First, political manipulation. Political manipulation involves the use of religious sentiments and institutions to solidify support. This support often leads to theocracy and suppression of those who oppose those in power. Second, extremism and control. Weaponization promotes extremist ideologies and leads to radicalization and the justification of violence. It creates extremist groups which take the tenets of a religion to extreme measures and ultimately turn to violence in order to gain control or compliance. Third, virtue signaling. Virtue signaling in which people are using religion for image management rather than genuine belief. The use of religion for image can lead to exploitation and corruption.The mix of wealth and power with the pull of religion leads to greed, corruption and exploitation. Whenever anyone in the public eye makes the claim of being a Christian, I do not automatically believe them. I look for the evidence, the fruits in their lives, that they are truly believers. And while believers are not perfect and will falter, there still be proof in their lives that they truly believe and follow Jesus Christ. In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus tells us to watch for false prophets, to be careful of wolves in sheep’s clothing and by their fruit we will recognize one’s true character by their behaviors. 

I am not a person who is overly political. I do not belong to any political group. I do pay attention to what is going on politically in order to stay informed but politics does not dictate my every waking thought. Everything in my life is informed by my faith, including my political beliefs. The Christian’s primary concern is the gospel and being good citizens that we can represent Christ to the world (Winger, 2022). That is where my focus is to represent Christ as much as I can. It has become popular to fire politically charged questions at Christians; however, these questions are often to trap rather than find the truth or a solution (Winger, 2020). If I am ever faced with a politically charged question, I hope that my carefully chosen answer would bridge the person and Jesus rather than proving myself in the right and them in the wrong as Proverbs 15:28 says that “the heart of the righteous weighs its answers.” However, I know that it would be useless to teach holy concepts to people who do not want to listen (Matthew 7:6). Jesus tells us to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16) meaning that we are to be discerning, quick to learn, to be careful of manipulation and deceptive traps and yet be gentle and act with integrity rather than inflicting harm. Therefore, as a Christian, my purpose is to be a light in the world and that includes the political world. 

In conclusion, religion and politics can be mixed carefully. To bring morality, justice, a sense of community and charity. Religion can be weaponized and used to manipulate and corrupt people in order to gain power and justify violence. While the United States of America was not designed specifically as a Christian nation, it is dishonest to ignore the faith foundations that are woven into the founding of this great nation. As for me, I focus on my identity in Christ as a wife, mother, friend, and citizen of this country. I will look to Christ as I cast my vote and voice my support or opposition. I aim to be more like Christ and while I may fail, I pray that others see him before they see me. Fellow believers in Christ, I urge you to not to shy away from politics, educate yourself, engage in the conversations when possible and be the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it. 

Resources

Campbell, David (Summer 2020). The Perils of Politicized Religion. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. https://www.amacad.org/publication/daedalus/perils-politicized-religion. Retrieved March 13, 2026. 

Chandler, Diana (December 12. 2024). Christians are most charitable; giving drives happiness, State of the Bible finds. Baptist Press. https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/christians-are-most-charitable-giving-drives-happiness-state-of-the-bible-finds/. Retrieved March 18, 2026. 

Echele, Kathryn (May 20, 2023). Weaponization of Religion: The Manipulation of Religion in the Pursuit of Political Power in Yugoslavia and Syria. Fordham University. https://research.library.fordham.edu/international_senior/111/. Retrieved March 13, 206. 

Frazer, Gregg (n.d.). The Faith of the Founding Fathers. The Master’s University. https://www.masters.edu/master_tmu_news/the-faith-of-the-founding-fathers/#:~:text=There%20were%20Christians%20among%20the,to%20create%20a%20Christian%20nation.. Retrieved March 13, 2026. 

Ryman, Hana M. & Alcorn, Mark J. (October 17, 2023). Establishment Clause: Separation of Church and State. Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University. https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/establishment-clause-separation-of-church-and-state/#. Retrieved March 13, 2026.

Winger, Mike (2020). Being More Biblical About Politics: The Mark series part 47. https://www.youtube.com/live/dWBybF6T0HQ?si=n1Jgv9y8xJImvtXK. Retrieved March 8, 2025. 

Winger, Mike (2022). She asked me to talk about politics. The Bible Thinker. https://youtu.be/eV5dgUNoeHs?si=nH4xhdUT45rHrz4V. Retrieved March 8, 2025.

 

No God But One: an in depth examination of Christianity and Islam

No God but One: Allah or Jesus? A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi is an in depth, analytical examination of Christianity and Islam. Mr. Qureshi sets out to examine Island and Christianity in detail, exploring areas of crucial conflict and seeking relevant evidence. In this book, he provides a through and careful comparison of the evidence for Islam and for Christianity and addresses the important questions regarding the two religions. How do they differ? Are the differences significant? Can we be confident that either Christianity or Islam is true? And most importantly, is it worth sacrificing everything? Sharing stories from his life and ministry, Mr. Qureshi casts new light on current events and explores pivotal events in the histories of both religions as he compares and contrasts the two religions. Both Islam and Christianity teach that there is no God but one. But who is it? Allah or Jesus? Who deserves to be worshiped? 

I was first introduced to Nabeel Qureshi in the documentary, American Gospel (2018) and I immediately was curious about his journey from Islam to Christianity. Mr. Qureshi shared his journey of faith in the New York Times bestselling Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (2014), which I have not read yet. However, in No God But One, the reader gets a sense of his journey to faith as he examines Islam and Christianity to their bare bones and answers the hard questions. No God but One is a great resource that is gripping, thought-provoking and challenging while being respectful and insightful. I read the eBook edition which has bonus content of a Q&A with Nabeel Qureshi as well as access to videos in which Mr. Qureshi answers some of the common questions about Islam and Christianity. No God but One is an amazing, in-depth examination between Islam and Christianity. I highly, highly recommend No God but One. 

No God but One is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Handmaid's Tale: a classic novel we should all read

I originally read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood in high school. The imagery in the book is one that has never left me. When I heard Hulu was producing a series based on the book, I was interested in reading it again. What also intrigued me was the comments I found on online about the book’s themes which some of the purposed themes I did not see when I read it the first time and I was curious if I would pick on the themes as I read it again. I also read the author’s introduction about her thoughts on the proposed themes readers have seen in the story. The themes are essentially feminism, anti-religion, and a prediction of our coming future.

The story is told from the point of view of Offred, a Handmaid, in the Republic of Gilead. She lives in the home of the Commander and his wife. Her job is simple. She is to become pregnant by the Commander in order to produce children due to the declining birth rates. Offred and the other Handmaids are highly restricted. Women are no longer allowed to hold jobs, have their money, or even allowed to read and write. She is safe in a world which is becoming more and more unstable as long as she produces children. The Handmaids are look down upon by the other women known as Marthas due to the nature of their presence in the households. While she goes about her daily life, she remembers her life before with her husband, Luke, and their daughter. She wonders if they are even alive. She remembers the other Handmaids real names without revealing her own. It’s a secret she heavily guards. Slowly she is able to learn about the truth behind everything and as she learns the truth, she becomes more and more in danger. Can she escape with her life? Or will she be another victim to the growing restrictions of the regime?

The first theme that is often discussed with The Handmaid’s Tale is feminist. In the author’s own words: “If you mean an ideological tract in which all woman are angels and/or so victimized they are incapable of moral choice, no” (page XVI). In the author’s mind and I agree, the novel is feminist in the sense that women are human beings and what happens to them in the book is crucial to the story. The female characters are the focus on this story. Not just the handmaids, but the Wives, the woman who can no longer have children. The Marthas who are the servants in wealthy and powerful households. The Econowives who are viewed lower than the handmaids because they are married to men of little money or power. Wives, Marthas, Econowives, and Handmaids all interact in a way which is dictated by societal rules. By the end of the book, the reader gets a sense that every woman, regardless of her rank, is at the mercy of the men in power and they lash out on those they can: the other women. In a way, the reader ends up feeling sorry for the women who may or may not have chosen their rank and now must live a life accordingly.

The second theme is anti-religion. Ms. Atwood’s inspiration for the tale comes from the story of Jacob and his wives, Rachel and Leah, and their handmaids, Zilpah and Bilhah (Genesis 29:15-30:24). In the story, a dominant group of authoritarian men seize control and set up a society of extreme patriarchy. The regime uses biblical symbols to do so. The clothing worn by the women in the story are derived from Western religious iconography. The Wives wear blue which invokes the image of the Virgin Mary and of purity. The Handmaids wear red symbolizing the blood of childbirth. The highly enforced clothing helps regimes control and target the masses just as the Nazis did with the yellow stars and the Jews. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the dominant “religion” (we are not told what religion) takes control of every intellectual and doctrinal ideal in order to eliminate the other religions. Catholics and Baptists are targeted as the enemy in “the war” and Quakers go underground and escape the country. In the book, Offred refuses to believe that the regime has been sent by a just and merciful God. No, the book is not anti-religion. According to Ms. Atwood, “it is against the use of religion as a front for tyranny” (page XVIII) which is very different than being anti-religion.

Third, many readers see The Handmaid’s Tale as a prediction for the future, just like many people quote the book 1984 by George Orwell as a prediction to a very scary future. Ms. Atwood calls her book an anti-prediction. She holds that a future described in detail and people are aware of it can be a force to make sure it doesn’t happen. With the 2016 election, I can see how many people could see a regime like the one in The Handmaid’s Tale could happen. I can see how anything is possible. Anyone who has studied history can tell you that many horrible things have been done to others in the name of religion, government, or any reason they chose to give. The United States is a country of rebels. We were founded on a principle that we can change what doesn’t work. We can change a government which has become oppressive and even tyrannical. In a 1965 radio broadcast, Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, said “Eternal vigilance is not the only price of liberty; eternal vigilance is the price of human decency.” We cannot sit by and let those in power take away our civil liberties and our God given rights. We are a country of the people, by the people and for the people. We need to stand up and not let futures like the one portrayed in The Handmaid’s Tale happen.

In conclusion, I see The Handmaid’s Tale as a warning. A warning to those are becoming complacent about the world events around us. We can be a part of the change or we become a part of the regime which holds everyone down. I see how the book can be feminist as it portrays women as a vital and important part of society. Women are not people who need to be protected from themselves or others. I do not see the book as anti-religion. It is a book against the use of God’s name to oppress others or enact their own agenda which is something we have seen in history. I also see it as an idea of what our world could be like if we are not vigilant. I look forward to seeing the Hulu series. I recommend this book as it is belong among the classic stories which we all need to read. 

Genesis: my thoughts and insights

The word Genesis comes from Greek meaning “origin.” It is the first book of the Tanakh of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. My goals for reading and writing about my thoughts and insights was not to be influenced by someone’s thoughts or interpretations, I am not reading the footnotes in my Bible. For the most part, I will also quote from the New International Version (NIV). For this post, I want to focus on the Creation story told in Genesis. The Creation story is a description of how God created the heavens and the earth. It is where a lot of atheists and nonbelievers will criticize believers for their belief that such a story is true.

To recap for those who may not be familiar with this Creation Story, Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:2 says that the earth was dark, formless and empty and God gave it form. The first day, God created light and created day and night. The second day, He created the sky to separate the waters below and the waters above. The third day He separated the lands from the sea. The fourth day He created two great lights in the sky. The sun would be the greater light for the day and the moon the lesser light for the night. These lights would be used to mark the seasons, days and years. On the fifth day, He created the creatures of the waters and the birds in the skies. On the sixth day, He created the creatures of the land. The livestock, other land animals and the wild animals. The last of the land creatures created was mankind. Man was created in the image or likeness of God to rule over the creatures of the sea, air and land. On the seventh, God rested and saw His good work.

As I read through Genesis, I hear the skeptics and scientists in my ear interjecting about the Big Bang. I know that many disagree with me but I believe that God began with the Big Bang and created the forces which formed the universe that can be seen through telescopes and from the pictures sent back from the space probes. Many would argue that the universe is a lot older than the Bible says it is. If you interpret it literally, sure it sounds that way. However, one day doesn’t necessarily mean 24 hours as we know it. One day to God can be billions of years to us. Yes, there are Christians who teach the literal 24 hour days of creation. However, I believe that the use of each day of creation is more to give an image of the process. He began and ended with created day and night and He stopped. Then He created the sky and stopped. And so and so on. I think the most important aspect of the Creation Story is the process in which God creates the heavens and the earth. Everything has a beginning and the universe has a beginning. The Bible doesn’t tell is how He created everything. It doesn’t say that the gathering rock and gravity, etc, etc. I don’t think it matters. All that matters is that God is the Creator.  

Another argument is that the Bible doesn’t account for dinosaurs. I’ve heard some skeptics says the Bible doesn’t mention dinosaurs but we have proof that dinosaurs existed, so the Bible can’t be true. Really? I think it does, it just doesn’t call them dinosaurs. Genesis 1:24 talks about livestock, wild animals and “those who move along the ground.” Many of the dinosaurs were animals which moved along the ground. The term “dinosaur” was coined in 1841 by Sir Richard Owen, an English biologist, comparative anatomists and paleontologists. Owen used the Modern Latin word dinosaurus which is a combination of the Greek words deinos (meaning terrible) and sauros (meaning lizard). The description of “creatures that move along the earth” sounds like many creatures including dinosaurs. Again, if you can take the premise that God created earth in the time that science has told us that the earth was formed, it’s very possible. And God may have also decided the time of the dinosaurs was over and sent the meteor, spread the diseases and started the evolution which dinosaurs are now the lizards and birds we know today.

Lastly, the creation of Adam and Eve. The creation of man and woman is actually told in two places. First, in Genesis 1:26-31 where God created man and woman in His image and blessed them. His command to them was to be fruitful and multiply. To fill the earth and rule over the animals of the waters, land and sky. The second is told is Genesis 2:4-23. When God made man from the dust of the ground and breathed into him “the breath of life and man became a living being” (verse 7). God gives man the Garden of Eden but realizes that it is not good for man to be alone. God puts man to sleep and from his rib he forms a woman (verses 21-22). Now, I hear the critics saying “what a minute? Men aren’t missing a rib or how can woman be from his rib?” I have two possibilities. Maybe Adam is the only man missing the rib and when he and Eve procreated, he had the DNA for the missing rib so all future men will have the rib. Second, I think the missing rib is a metaphor that men and women were met to be partners, working side by side. 

I know that many will read this and say I’m being too simple. And maybe I am. However, in Genesis, God has given a reason, an explanation for what we see. I see the earth, the universe and marvel at His Creation. I have watched plants grow from a tiny seed to a plant producing food. I believe that God has coded plants, animals and other forces of natures to behave the way they do. I also know that many people, Christians and skeptics alike are saying that faith and science can’t mix; however, I’ve just presented possibilities that says they can and are. There are many, many examples of famous scientists who are revered for their contributions were also believers in God. Sometimes when the explanation is too complex, we tend to tune it out. I’ll end with this question: scientists are consistently going back and forth about their theories of the universe and the laws of nature, so why do we take their word as solid truth and doubt God’s version of the events?