American Foundations Part 1: understanding faith's role in politics

July 3, 1:50 PMLA Faith & Politics ExaminerNathan R. Elson

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Rose Bowl Fireworks Show, Pasadena, CA.
July 4, 2006

Politics is faith.

That is a bold statement but one that needs to be drawn out and discussed.  Over the Fourth of July Holiday weekend, a series of four articles called "American Foundations" will discuss the idea of how faith and politics are irrevocably tied to teach other and how that effects our lives here in Los Angeles.

There is a long list of political happenings, politicians, policies, debates, and events that effect the daily lives of Angelenos, and all of the surrounding communities and counties.  The reality of life in Southern California is such that the city where we live, may not be the city where we work and what happens in Irvine can have an effect on someone living in Ventura.

But through all of our interconnectedness and interdependencies (political and otherwise) one things remains true, regardless of our political orientation.  It is our faith that determines our politics - and it was the faith of our nations founders that determined how, when and why our country was birthed.

The idea of Faith in Politics is usually associated with the idea of religious association or the role of a formal religious entity in the realm of politics.  While it is understandable to see this connection, that conversation is better left to the Examiners that deal with the topic of Church and State.  The idea of Faith in Politics goes beyond religion - but rather deals with how faith, as individuals in whatever we chose to have faith in, effects our attitude toward politics.

As we celebrate the birth of our nation, the most patriotic and bombastic of American holidays, it is a good time to reflect upon the meaning of what we are celebrating.  What was the political motivation of our founding fathers?  What was it that they had so much faith in that it moved them to start a war to gain our independence?  How did that faith inform the early political life of America?  How does does our faith inform our political view?

To put it bluntly - whatever you have faith in (not what you say you have faith in) is going to dictate what you think about and your attitude toward the political happenings.  So to answer the question:  "what is the role of faith in politics?"  The answer is simply - politics is faith.