Politik und Religion in der aktuellen politischen Wissenschaft. Mehr als politische Gewalt im Namen Gottes

In: Zeitschrift für Politik: ZfP, Band 58, Heft 2, S. 188-212

Abstract

The influence of religions on politics and society is growing globally. Even in the presumed secular Europe, the area of conflict between politics and religion has gained in importance substantially. Public interest usually focuses on the potential of conflict and violence of religion. However, the reciprocal relationship of politics and religion is much more complex than the prevailing media image of religiously motivated violence and Islamic terror conveys. Having neglected religion for quite a while, recent political science research demonstrates that there are many more facets to this topic. But at the same time there is also a substantial degree of uncertainty within the discipline how to deal analytically with the phenomenon of religion. This article intends to systemize the new and unclear state of research and thus to bring religion and its many intersections with politics into an analytical framework of political science. On the whole, the relationship of politics and religion proves to be one of the great overarching topics of a political science which intends to enlighten the options of democratic politics. Adapted from the source document.