- Noah Feldman writes: “Secularists must accept the fact that religious values form an important source of
political beliefs and identities for the majority of Americans, while evangelicals need to acknowledge that
separating the institutions of government from those of religion is essential for avoiding outright politicalreligious conflict. Taking these steps asks much of both sides, but it does not ask too much. In each case…the proposed shift follows a consistent internal logic…(which)aims to build on the common ground we already
have, ground well trodden by our constitutional tradition…” Explain what Feldman means by this and analyze
his argument indicating your agreement or disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned
readings to support your position. Provide examples and evidence to support your position. - Wald and Calhoun-Brown conclude that “religion in politics is neither an unvarying source of good nor a
consistent evil influence; the historical record…has shown that religion has the capacity both to ennoble and to
corrupt political life.” Explain and analyze the basis of their conclusion indicating your agreement or
disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned readings to support your position. Provide
examples and evidence to support your position. - Madeleine Albright states that “to anticipate events rather than merely respond to them, American diplomats
will need to…think more expansively about the role of religion in foreign policy and about their own need for
expertise. They should develop the ability to recognize where and how religious belief contributes to conflicts
and when religious principles might be invoked to ease strife. They should also reorient our foreign policy
institutions to take fully into account the immense power of religion to influence how people think, feel, and act.”
Explain and analyze this statement indicating your agreement or disagreement and your reasons using
material from the assigned readings to support your position. Provide examples and evidence to support your
position. - Jim Wallis contends that “in a political and media culture that squeezes everything into only two options of
left and right, religious people must refuse the ideological categorization and actually build bridges between
people of goodwill in both liberal and conservative camps. We must insist on the deep connection between
spirituality and politics while defending the proper boundaries between church and state that protect religious
and nonreligious minorities and keep us safe from state-controlled religion. We can demonstrate our
commitment to pluralistic democracy and support the rightful separation of church and state without
segregating moral and spiritual values from our political life.” Explain and analyze this statement indicating your
agreement or disagreement and your reasons using material from the assigned readings to support your
position. Provide examples and evidence to support your position.
Here are the books we used:
Feldman, Noah. Divided by God: America’s Church-State Problem-And What We Should Do About It. Farrar,
Straus, and Giroux, 2005.(Hardcover)
Wald, Kenneth D., and Allison Calhoun Brown. Religion and Politics in the United States. Rowman and
Littlefield, 2018.(Paperback). Eighth edition.
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