The Influences of Religion, Morality, and Worldview on Public Policy

The Influences of Religion, Morality, and Worldview on Public Policy
Jassica Harris
Liberty University

There is much debate on the role of religion, morality, and worldview in the creation of public policy. Religion plays an indirect role in the development and implementation of public policy. But as moral teachers and the bearers of ethical traditions, religious communities can help to structure debate and illuminate relevant moral norms. They can help to develop and sustain political morality by promoting moral reasoning and by exemplifying values and behaviors that are conducive to human dignity (Amstutz, 2001).
In my opinion morality and worldview has more of an influence on public policy than religion does. A worldview is a network of related presuppositions in terms of which every aspect of man’s knowledge and experience is interpreted and interrelated (Bahnsen, 1991). Most religions want their views taken into consideration when it comes to the creation of public policy. This is because every man has a personal ethic, all public laws are legislated ethics, and all ethics have a religious foundation. Religion doesn’t necessarily mean you worship a God. Rituals and holy days are not needed to be religious. Religion has to do with worldviews (admin, 2011).
All public policies originate from a worldview and there are a lot of different worldviews that exist in government. A person 's worldview clues him as to the nature, structure and origin of reality. It tells him what limits possibility. It involves a view of the nature, sources and limits of human knowledge. It includes fundamental convictions about right and wrong. One 's worldview says something about who man is, his place in the universe, and the meaning of life, etc. Worldviews determine our acceptance and understanding of events in human experience, and thus they play the crucial role in our interpreting of evidence or in disputes over conflicting fundamental beliefs (Bahnsen, 1991). Because worldviews play such a large role in a person’s decision making it is imperative that policymakers understand their worldview because it is the platform that they will base all their moral and political decisions (Roach, 2010). Citizens should also understand the worldviews of the policymakers because it will decide who represents them in the political body.
When public policy is discussed, a person’s worldview is taken into consideration because it will set the paradigm of the discussion, determining what an acceptable policy is and what is not. Existential libertarians don’t want the State trumping their personal inward “authenticity.” Pure democracy supporters don’t want legislation transcending the will of the people (their meta ethic authority). Their faith-based religions simply will not allow it (admin, 2011).
No one comes to the public square without an agenda, a set of values, and a worldview. To deprive some Americans of their right to make political arguments from religious conviction or to insist on a separation of church and state so absolute that it expunges all traces of theism and religious influence from the public square does not create a neutral zone for civil discourse (Campbell, 2007). It creates an unconstitutional obstacle to civic participation for the vast majority of Americans whose worldview is religiously informed. And it hands strident secularists a de facto victory before the debate ever begins, since religious Americans are told that they must argue from secular assumptions if they want to be heard at all (Campbell, 2007).
In conclusion, the worldview of politicians has a much greater influence on public policy than does religion and morality. Most politicians are still accepting the notion of having the separation between church and state. In most instances when public policy is discussed, they want to keep their religious views out of it in order to gain the support of all groups. However, politicians still support policies that strongly relate to their worldview.
Bibliography
Admin. (2011, January 18). All Men and Politics Are Religious. Retrieved September 9, 2011, from SubDeo: http://subdeo.org/2011/01/all-men-and-politics-are-inescapably-religious/
Amstutz, M. (2001). Faith based NGOs and U.S. Foreighn Policy. In E. Abrams, The Influence of faith: Religious Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy (pp. 175-172). Lanham, Rowman, and Littlefield.
Bahnsen, D. G. (1991). The Heart of the Matter. The Biblical Worldview.
Campbell, C. C. (2007). The Enduring Costs of John F. Kennedy’s Compromise. THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT.
Roach, W. C. (2010, Spring). Intergrating Worldview and Public Policy. Retrieved August 25, 2011, from North Carolina Family Policy Cancel: http://www.ncfpc.org/FNC/1004S2.html#Anchor-It-4581

Bibliography: Admin. (2011, January 18). All Men and Politics Are Religious. Retrieved September 9, 2011, from SubDeo: http://subdeo.org/2011/01/all-men-and-politics-are-inescapably-religious/ Amstutz, M. (2001). Faith based NGOs and U.S. Foreighn Policy. In E. Abrams, The Influence of faith: Religious Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy (pp. 175-172). Lanham, Rowman, and Littlefield. Bahnsen, D. G. (1991). The Heart of the Matter. The Biblical Worldview. Campbell, C. C. (2007). The Enduring Costs of John F. Kennedy’s Compromise. THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT. Roach, W. C. (2010, Spring). Intergrating Worldview and Public Policy. Retrieved August 25, 2011, from North Carolina Family Policy Cancel: http://www.ncfpc.org/FNC/1004S2.html#Anchor-It-4581