The Relationship Between Politics and Religion (Essay Sample)

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The Relationship Between Politics and Religion
Religion is a way in which different people with different faiths approach God. From elections to covenants, prophecies, priesthood, and elections show religion-political aspects. Religion and politics have a close relationship in terms of the rules and the activities involved. For example, courts use religious grounds and beliefs in the justification of high authority policies and laws. The swearing of new judges or lawmakers requires them to take an oath using the Bible. Scholars argue that governments sometimes force religion into the people by automatically using religious beliefs during policymaking. It is a violation when any country or government forces religion upon people. It is believed that religion is based on ideologies, self-interest, and choice; therefore, everyone is entitled to make their own choice. This paper discusses the relationship between religion and politics in Judaism and Christianity, using specific readings.
The relationship between Judaism and politics is complex and has changed with societies and people living in specific eras. The Jewish people who do not own a state are mainly prone to conflicts, and they are particularistic at most times. The Hebrew Bible uses political leadership commonly and is primarily seen in most parts of this book during any event. Some of the models used (political) are the rule by prophets, monarchs, priest theocracy, and tribalism. The use of Jewish autonomous law and courts handled by rabbi's membership stood out. They mainly governed and represented the Jewish community. Critics staged a movie to try and show how the Jewish communities lived. They took boats to flee for their lives as they did not feel safe anymore. Tribal federation stood out in the Jewish religion. It involved the sharing of power amongst tribes and communities. Cohen found a particularistic Jewish community not matching with the Jewish universal mission. It came a time when the Jewish state was declared as the redemption and a new beginning of growth. This state was often in conflict with the universalism of the rest of the states.
In the modern era, the Jewish people have become inclined to the political class. They have widened their views on the relationship between politics and Judaism. The Jewish population increased in the 19th century in the European territory. Some of the Jews supported liberalism as it contained some of their principles. Other Jews aligned themselves with various political movements that favored them in one way or another. Significant changes occurred in the 21st century.
The elections conducted showed that Judaism had a role to play in the political class. I believe that the religious class has a role in electing their leaders and choosing freedom. Judaism is historically political. One of the most apparent indications of this is the presence of kings, judges, and warriors. The elected people are supposed to be respected and obeyed at all times. There were mostly exiles and the presence of a messiah who redeemed them. The first return of the Jewish community encourages the rise of Christianity and the Islamic religion. Over time, the Jewish community has come up with many political regimes such as monarchies.
The Jews' return to Jerusalem displays two important events of religious and non-religious sides that are still not accepted worldwide. Many communities came up with gentile, sacred, and other different authorities. The narrative in this type of religion has, over time and in history, have been used. Such movements include liberalism movements. The role of prophets is also still applied to this day. Some texts, however, in the Jewish culture, show the distinction between religion and politics. The factors that depict political affiliations in the Bible are kingship and other forms of governance. In the Jewish faith, its political nature has brought about various forms of tension amongst individuals. Everyone has their view of Judaism, and this often brings conflicts of thoughts and interests. However, there existed laws that defined states and humans. To the present, no Arab terrorists are sentenced to death even with the worst crimes committed. The law of return required that all immigrants stated reasons for migrating. This law resulted in Jews' abolishment of migration; thus, most are still in exile. Holocaust was not supposed to be postponed at any point. Therefore, the law of return was necessary for the Jewish community. It, however, brought severe risks to this state.
Emil Fackenheim's Jewish essay "The Zionist Imperative" provides some moral lessons on the imperative to seek an answer to the question of where was God at Auschwitz (Fackenheim). I agree with Fackenheim's philosophy that peace will prevail on the earth if the different religions worship together. Despite their differences, I agree that we should all put our political classes and needs and work together like Fackenheim to ensure that we are tools of change.
Christianity and politics have often seen a wide range of differences and disagreements. Most Christians and Islamic religions cover a large part of the world. Their superiority is mostly marked by the return of Jews to Jerusalem. Such experiences are still yet to be felt by Christians and Muslims, and they may experience them in the future. While some people directly link Christianity to politics, others completely evade associating it with politics. They see politics as chaotic and corrupt, while Christianity is supposed to be holy. However, the Christian religion is used to ordain various groups of people in leadership positions where they are advised to rule per the Bible's teachings.
Matthew's Gospel, Ch. 22:15-40 talks about the story of paying the imperial tax to Ceasar. When the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was right to pay the Imperial tax to Ceasar or wrong, Jesus asked for the coin they used for paying tax. When it was brought, and they found it had Ceasar's image and inscription, Jesus amazed them by telling them to give back to Ceasar what belongs to him and God what belongs to Him. The chapter teaches us about making the right decisions. We should give what belongs to the political leaders and the country in the form of tax and give God what is God's.
In Aquinas view, choosing what to do or not do by judging its consequences reflects moral philosophy (Finnis). This is because life has many opportunities, and one can use well all opportunities that life presents to them. Depending on one's reasoning, one can do right or maintain good character. According to Aquinas, the law is done for the good of a community or nation (Finnis). It is done by someone who cares for his people. He explains that the whole earth is ruled by a supreme being who provides and has good plans for all. Moral philosophy guides actions that one can choose. They could be reasonable and practical; this guides us to have a fulfilling life and a happy life built by making the right choices. Human beings are expected to carry themselves in a just and proper way till the end. They are expected to follow all the laws and use their instincts in making choices so that they can utilize opportunities in the right way.
Due to its unique nature, Aquinas terms it uniquely instead of generalizing it with other creations. He chooses to say that all human beings are governed by natural law. He further recognizes that just doing good and avoiding evil does not provide the contentment of living a moral life. He asks everyone to use their instincts and natural way of judging to find life satisfaction rather than merely following rules they may not clearly understand. He emphasizes political and moral philosophy and considers them as tools that bring out various principles.
Pope Leo sees socialism as an unjust way of life as it involves robbing people of their rightful possessions (Pecci). A remedy should help reduce the many forms of misery and suffering that capitalism brings about. The working class mainly imposes such. Property rightfully belongs to individual persons. Naturally, a man should head his family and provide all the requirements at all times. He should be able to keep his family decently. He also condemns capitalism, basing his frustrations that it pr