The tendency to claim God as an ally for our partisan value and ends is the source of all religious fanaticism.
Reinhold NiebuhrRead
Religion is so frequently a source of confusion in political life, and so frequently dangerous to democracy, precisely because it introduces absolutes into the realm of relative values.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that religion can blur the lines in political discussions by introducing fixed beliefs that clash with the often subjective nature of political values.
Reinhold Niebuhr's quote emphasizes the complications that arise when religion intersects with politics. It points out that while religion often holds absolute truths for its followers, politics is usually based on relative values that require flexibility and compromise. The introduction of absolute religious beliefs into political discourse can create confusion and potentially destabilize democratic processes, as it constrains the plurality of ideas that are essential for a healthy democracy.
Themes
ReligionPoliticsDemocracyAbsolutesValues
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the role of religion in government policy during a community meeting.
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All you earnest young men out to save the world. . . please, have a laugh.
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God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. This prayer was first printed in a monthly bulletin of the Federal Council of Churches and has become enormously popular. It has been circulated in millions of copies.
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