Politics, Religion, and Ethnic/Religious Minorities

1. Politics, Religion, and Ethnic/Religious Minorities Religious Minorities in America: Focus on Muslims, Jews, and Mormons “Smaller religions have important lessons to teach us about what they do, how they protect themselves, and how they advance their values.” Fowler et al. p.57 • The Jews – 2% of population; monotheistic with the Torah (OT) as their sacred text. Central religious figure = Moses. • Characteristics of Jews • Demographically well-off • Disproportionately influential in law, business, politics, journalism, and entertainment • Politically liberal – disproportionately influential in the _______________________ as well. • 3 groupings: _____________ (39%); Conservative (33%); Conservative (21%; most traditional). • Religious Characteristics

2. Synagogue attendance very low (less than 25% once a month). • Label is increasingly an ethnic identity than indicating a religious practice • Increasingly secular in worldview • Losing culturally distinctive identity (especially among young) • Intermarriage growing (_____% today) and birthrates lower than necessary to replace population • Political ideology and Judaism • Theological liberalism dominates Judaism today (3/4s either Reform or Conservative). Theology of “________ not creeds” such that Atheism or Agnosticism is theoretically and practically tenable in most Jewish thought. Reform Judaism more or less approximates the secular enlightenment philosophy. • History of persecution – fostered concern for religious minorities and other disadvantaged groups. • Orthodox are the most Politically Conservative 1. Ultraconservative Jews (like Hasidic Jews) hold politically conservative views on cultural and social issues. However…

3. this group often practices withdrawal (similar to ___________________). • Was and is prominent among the “NeoConservatives” (Irving Kristol, Norman Podhoretz, Gertrude Himmelfarb, Bill Kristol, and David Horowitz; Weekly Standard). • American Jews and Israel – has connected Jews to American conservatism quite frequently. • U.S. is a strong ally of Israel and the GOP is consistently seen as Israel’s strongest supporters • _____________________ Theology among Protestants – according to DT, Christians (really everyone) are commanded to be especially kind towards and protective of the Jews as God’s chosen people. Pastor John Hagee and the “Christian Zionist” movement calls for the U.S. and Christ’s church, as instruments of God’s prophetic fulfillment of land promises to Israel, to tenaciously defend and fight against Israel’s enemies. The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee is among the top five most powerful lobbies in D.C. • Islam – (1% roughly; 2-6 million people; rapidly outpacing Jews in number; 1,200 mosques up from 1 in 1930; nearly all 1st or 2nd generation immigrants)

4. History – Mohammed, the central figure in Islam, lived in the late 6th and early 7th century in and near ____________; claimed to have received revelation from Allah (via the angel Gabriel) throughout his life; his sermons and teachings are set down in the Quran (Islamic sacred text); won enough converts through preaching and conquest of nearby cities to eventually make all the Arabian peninsula Islamic • Theology – One God; many prophets (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed); God created angels (some good some evil); The Qur’an is the final revelation of God (the Hadith is another holy book but of lesser authority); Judgment is coming (heaven and hell) and is based on obedience to Allah and his prophet Mohammed. To be a Muslim (or remain so), one must confess “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger”; pray five times a day; fast through the ninth lunar month of Ramadan; give alms to the need (1/40 of income); Make trip to Mecca in one’s lifetime. Some include a 6th “pillar” of Jihad • Two broad divisions: Shi’ite (Shia) and _________ are divided originally over who the appropriate successor to Mohammed is. 1. Shia believe that the leader of Islam (Imam) should be appointed by God through each descendent of Mohammed (first was Ali, a cousin and then son-in-law of Mohammed).

5. Iran (90%) as well as Hezbollah (a militant hardcore Islamic party/paramilitary group in Lebanon calling for the extermination of Israel); 2003 Iraqi elections/constitution favored by Shia. • Sunni, larger of the two, recognize the first four ___________ and the means of selecting them as appropriate (election). Sunni are a slight minority but recently most dominate force in Iraq (Hussein was Sunni); Al Queda is sunni too; Afghanistan and former Taliban are sunni (90%).

6. C. Islam in American Society/Politics 1. Fear among many in the West (less so here) is that Muslims will engage politics with the purpose of enacting/enforcing _____________ law (Islamic law regulating everything from religious practice to crime control to foreign affairs). Clearly advocated by sizable Islamic groups in Europe, but not as much here. Kenneth Wald notes the difference in America between Muslims and “___________” (Islamists are the minority favoring immediate enforcement of Sharia law). • Key political groups – Islamic Society of North America – concerned with civil liberties protections for Muslims, especially after 9/11. • 9/11 and its aftermath has caused many Muslims to unite in order to refute and fight against mischaracterizations of American Muslims. • Conservative on Social Affairs – since they are typically socially conservative, many thought that Muslims may become an ally of the GOP (majority voted for Bush in 2004). But 9/11 and the War on Terror changed all that (______% voted against Bush in 2004). • Prospects for an effective Muslim political movement are

7. ambiguous. Must deal with ethnic differences brought from abroad; modernity or secular appeal of modernity in America as well as the distinct Black Muslim movement in America; relations to Jews, view of women. Etc. May have been united around the War, but no clear common political agenda. • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) • Who? 1-2% (5.7m); nearly all white; much higher levels of church attendance than others; fastest growing religious group; heavily concentrated geographically in Utah (70%) and a couple other mountain west states (Idaho 27%) • History: established in 1830 by Joseph Smith, who claimed to have received revelation from the angel Moroni. Moroni told him that “golden plates” were buried near his NY home, the information of which translated into the Book of Mormon (book of beliefs and history, written by various men; teaches that ancient Israelite prophets – ancestors of Native Americans - sailed to the Americas from Jerusalem in 600BC foretelling the coming of the Messiah; Christ came to them and gave them a “second testimony” after His resurrection and ascension; one of 4 inspired books in Mormon theology; Bible, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants). Mormons taught the concept of unified just communities and set these up as thy migrated to Utah in the 19th century. Smith, killed 1844, replaced by BY.

8. Basic Beliefs – God was once a man who achieved deity through righteous living (model for man). He and his wife produced spirit offspring who later came to earth in human form in order to be more like God. Their inability to do so perfectly prompted God to send Jesus Christ, our eldest brother, to suffer for their sins; world rejected the gospel and church fell away from truth shortly after ascension, “____________” in 1830; full salvation is achieved through faith, repentance, obedience to God, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost; all spirit children will return to God at judgment with varying degrees of reward and punishment; Zion is the New Jerusalem, a future place in America, where Christ will return and rule in person as the former tribes of Israel reunite; prophets and apostles still hear from God within the context of LDS leadership; trend today is towards ____________ and even universal salvation; less dogmatic on sacred text than before. • Political History – Mormons were treated with suspicion by many Americans. Their communalism, separatism (People’s Political Party), alleged heresy, bloc voting, support for; polygamy, led many to take political action against them (SC actually upheld a law legally dissolving the organization). Assimilative actions by the church (abandon polygamy, dissolve Party, encourage traditional political behavior, etc.) resulted in recognition of Utah as a state in 1896.

9. Mormons and Politics today – most politically cohesive religious group (90% vote GOP); dominate business, news media, and politics in Utah where 80% state legislators are Mormon; claim 16 congressional seats including key figures like Orrin Hatch and 2008 presidential hopeful, former Governor of MA Mitt Romney). “Strict church” (i.e., highly active religious life) coupled with necessary obedience to the head LDS prophet produces great political _____________ and member mobilization, but church leaders take these issue positions infrequently. Tend to be cultural conservatives on culture war issues, but a bit more ____________ on many others. • Constraints on Mormon political influence – same as before regarding theology (seen as a “cult” by many Christians); geographically constrained. Will evangelicals support Romney if he is the GOP nominee?