Religion and Politics: There Is Good News and Bad News

In: New politics: a journal of socialist thought, Band 10, Heft 4, S. 45-49

Abstract

The prospects of establishing religious progressive social reform movements are contemplated. Several dangerous developments in political-religious relations are highlighted: the emergence of theocratic groups & governments in various Western & Middle Eastern countries; state repression of particular religious groups in various East & South Asian nations; the integration of evangelicalism & fundamentalism within the US; & the increase of conflict amongst different Islamic groups. Nevertheless, some positive trends within these regions are noted including the manifestation of Christian communities throughout certain areas of the People's Republic of China & the growth of Catholicism within developing societies. The thought of Antonio Gramsci & Ernst Bloch is subsequently reviewed to ascertain a progressive strategy for comprehending the politics-religion nexus within different socio-political contexts. Examples of religious-social movement coalitions in the US, eg, the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, are cited to illustrate the possibility of creating a religious progressive approach to realizing social reform. J. W. Parker