Should Religion Play A Role In Politics: Article Analysis

Gutting, Gary. “Should Religion Play a Role in Politics?” The New York Times: July 4, 2011.Print.The main thesis of this article is that when our electoral process has started to accelerate, questions about religious affiliation and commands for candidates to sign pledges that are supporting religious stances are in the exposed through media. Gary reflects on some of the general questions of the roles of religion in our political life. One view that Gutting discusses is that many American feel as though religion has no place in politics. Religion pertains to a private sphere, in other words what applies to me as an individual or as a member of a group with similar beliefs like a religion. Political life on the other hand is a public sphere; it pertains to a more expansive society
“Should Religious Leader Get Involved in Politics?” The New Times: November 21, 2013.Print.The main thesis of this article is that religious leaders should not join politics. Umutesi believes that religious leaders should play their role of spiritual and moral nurture of society because that is their primary role. Religious leaders are supposed to serve the God of their religion only. If they join politics, they would have to serve two masters. These two things will cause a conflict because it would mean that the leader would have to put more time and effort into one thing than the other. Politics is known as a dirty game, a religious leader shouldn’t be involved because they are suppose to encourage integrity and morals. If a religious leader were to join politics, it would be easy for that leader to influence and manipulate their followers with a particular political ideology. It’s a bad idea for a religious leader to join politics or to share their political interest or beliefs because it can separate their flock, even though religion is supposed to be unifying factor in society. This article supports my thesis that religious leaders should not be involved in