When one speaks of religion influencing public policy, the…
““When one speaks of religion influencing public policy, the immediate question is, Whose religion? If one subscribes to the notion that this is in some sense a Christian society, then the question becomes, Whose Christianity? Without some basic agreement religiously, the entrance of religion into the public arena would seem to be a formula for open-ended conflict and possible anarchy. Yet, in the absence of a public ethic, we arrive at that point where, in Alisdair MacIntyre's arresting phrase, "politics becomes civil war carried on by other means." MacIntyre believes that we have already reached that point, and he may be right. A major problem, however, is that a public ethic cannot be reestablished unless it is informed by religiously grounded values. . . . It is important to note that, unlike Rousseau, for example, the founders thought the conventional religions could manage this role of ancillary reinforcement. They did not think it necessary to construct a new "civil religion" for the maintenance of republican virtue.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that without a shared religiously grounded ethic, politics risks descending into conflict, and that founders relied on existing religions rather than creating a new civil religion.
In simple terms: Without a common religious ethic, politics can become chaotic.
Key Takeaway
Seek shared values to stabilize public life.
Themes
politics
religion
public ethics
civil religion
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- community dialogues
- interfaith initiatives
- policy making
- civic education
Key Concepts
social contract
pluralism
conflict resolution
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance diverse religious views in public policy?
- What alternatives exist to a religiously grounded public ethic?
A Different Perspective
Religious pluralism may make consensus on a public ethic difficult.