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PDF versionEmerging religious issues as we move to 2012
by Maureen Fiedler on Nov. 22, 2010
Three religious issues are emerging as significant as we march toward the 2012 election: Obama’s “faith dilemma,” perceptions of Islam, and attitudes about American “exceptionalism.” These findings come from a new nationwide poll, conducted in both English and Spanish from November 3-7, 2010 by the Public Religion Research Institute.
People’s perception of Obama’s religious beliefs are strongly related to the way they rate them as President. More than half say that his religious beliefs are different from their own (somewhat different: 16%, or very different: 35%). Only 40% say he has beliefs similar to theirs.
But the survey never probes what the respondents mean by that. How many of them still think (mistakenly) that he is a Muslim? Or think he is (horror of horrors!) an advocate of social justice? Or do these views simply reflect the fact that he is a Protestant Christian and they are some other tradition? The survey leaves us hanging.
Whatever the case, Obama probably needs to communicate his actual religious values more strongly in the coming two years.
But most alarming are the public perceptions of Islam, especially among Republicans. 75% of Republicans and 76% of Tea Party members say that the values of Islam are at odds with American values. In stark contrast, less than 30% of Democrats, and 43% of Independents, say that.
These numbers testify that interfaith education is sorely needed, the sooner the better. And we’re not talking about classroom education only, but television, radio, and new media. And how about some accurate homilies or parish discussions with Muslims that deal with interfaith tolerance and Islam?
Equally alarming is the fact that a majority of Americans (58%) believe that God has granted America a special role in human history. Tea Party people (76%) and Republicans (75%) are much more like to believe that than independents (54%) or Democrats (49%), but all these numbers are high. Belief in that “special role” is directly related to attitudes favoring military strength over diplomacy as the best way to “ensure peace,” and to attitudes approving the use of torture.
As one of my friends put it in the face of attitudes like this: “Who do we think we are anyway?”
If Catholic bishops and clergy had any desire to probe the emerging issues and dilemmas facing our society, these findings provide a lot of material.
Is the President an advocate
Is the President an advocate of social justice? Take abortion. Biggest holocaust in history. The poorest of the poor. Does he defend them?
Or if you're a liberal and care about other important social justice issues, how is he on preventive dental care?
If you think these are the
If you think these are the issues that will be significant in 2012, you live on a very different planet.
Whats wrong with recognizing
Whats wrong with recognizing the fact that Islam has direct political goals outside of those that would be allowed in a free country?
well, shucks, my religious
well, shucks, my religious beliefs are very very radically different from whatever it was George W Bush practices, but then again I am a practicing Christian of the Roman Catholic denomination.
What mendacious and blood thirsty idol does W serve?
More SCARY STUFF: Another
More SCARY STUFF:
Another growing concern to me -as well as the mainstream GOP- is Sarah Palin on religion and politics:
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/sarahposner/2802/is_sarah_p...
I fear that the same forces used to keep Bush the Second in power for eight years may just be dumb enough to put her in the White House in 2012!
Sorry, Maureen, but the Catholic BISHOPS are no longer players in this game ever since they couldn't deliver the CATHOLIC vote against OBAMAcare.
I would hope there would be
I would hope there would be some very open and frank discussions about Islam, Christianity and America. Islam may very well be at odds with American values. If America does not have a special role in human history, then the Catholic Church (i.e. bishops et al) will have to do some fancy word-work to clarify the nation dedicated to Mary and "one nation under God." And if America thinks it is a Christian nation, it needs to re-examine what Christianity is suppose to be, not how it is practiced.
America is special because of how people from all over the world came to this land to experience freedom, liberty and justice. They came here to forge a nation with those values because of religious intolerance--not only of other religions but also because of the internal practices of many religions toward their own members--across the globe. That America today has eroded its values to favor the rich, to sacrifice jobs here for profits, to harden its hearts toward immigrants is sad and needs reconciliation. However, we also need to address our values as measured in the profits of drugs, alcohol, pornography, greed and more. We need to address our own churches' intolerance of each other. And we need to address our appetite for violence and war. In essence, we need to either return to our ideals and live them, or redefine who America is and decide whether we want to live there.
But let's be fair: Islam is not a panacea, Christianity needs penance, and America needs a hard discussion on the meaning of liberty and justice for ALL!
"If America does not have a
"If America does not have a special role in human history . . ."
starting with the genocide of the original people upon these shores, from sea to shining sea?
Total war delivered world wide?
the only use of atom bombs, and those against civilians?
annihilation of innocents in Central America, and elsewhere, in places too numerous to list?
yeah, real special.
What did that Church Lady used to say?
Special.
Did the Catholic Bishops insert the phrase "under God" into the militarist pledge to a military banner?
Special . . .
"America is special because of how people from all over the world came to this land to experience freedom, liberty and justice."
Asked any immigrants lately how that little freedom, liberty and justice thingie is working out for them?
Been to Phoenix? Brooklyn?
How did Catholics do under the Protestant New England states, even into last century? Tolerance?
Dolan forgets his own history . . .
oh wait, Dave writes: "That America today has eroded its values to favor the rich, to sacrifice jobs here for profits, to harden its hearts toward immigrants is sad and needs reconciliation. However, we also need to address our values as measured in the profits of drugs, alcohol, pornography, greed and more. We need to address our own churches' intolerance of each other. And we need to address our appetite for violence and war. In essence, we need to either return to our ideals and live them, or redefine who America is and decide whether we want to live there."
Dave, stop shifting gears on me.
Never mind . . .
come to the desert . . .
Once again Ms. Fiedler does
Once again Ms. Fiedler does not mention the most mportant social issue, which is abortion. By puposely omitting this most important social issue, her credibility as a Catholic and as a religious continues to be diminished.
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