In the interest of preserving a record for posterity, here are the details of February's discussion:
Discussion: Is Politics the New Religion?
Led by: Dave Ward
Date: Feb. 16
Time: 7:30-9:30pm
Location: Mark and Elizabeth's, 1194 South 500 East in SLC
Discussion: Is Politics the New Religion?
Led by: Dave Ward
Date: Feb. 16
Time: 7:30-9:30pm
Location: Mark and Elizabeth's, 1194 South 500 East in SLC
Topic: Is Politics the New Religion? This topic is meant to speak provocatively to the degree to which partisan politics has become (or maybe just seems to have become) an increasingly central, defining, and emotionally invested part of Americans' lives - the lens through which many view the world and those around them. Per the 2006 Faith Matters survey, 72% of Americans believe America is divided along religious lines; 97% say the country is divided along political lines. At times it can feel like a political holy war is raging.
Questions on Politics and Religion.
1. Few Americans see any religion as uniquely true. Do Americans see political ideology in a similar way? Or, do we believe that our own particular ideology is uniquely "true"? Stated another way, has politics become more dogmatic than religion?
2. In 1980, the two major parties took definitive, opposing positions on abortion; subsequently, a growing number of younger Americans have come to equate religion with "Republican" and turned away from religion. Since 1980, the percentage of college freshmen claiming no religious identification (a.k.a. "the nones") has nearly tripled (from 8% to 22%). How has the politicization of religion affected you religiously, politically, and socially?
Questions on Mass Politicization.
1. While polticization itself is obviously not anything new, is it becoming more widespread and intense, something veering toward a tipping point, a phenomon a la globalization or commercialization? Or is the politicization of violent crimes, science, Islam, the media, breast cancer, etc. merely politics as usual, particularly as the two most intense and long-standing partisan issues, abortion and gay marriage, lose potency (with abortion losing acceptance and gay marriage gaining acceptance, both across party lines)?
2. If there is an increase in politicization, what is driving it? Any guess as to what might supplant abortion and gay marriage as the two primary drivers of party affiliation?
Questions on Activism.
1. The emergence of super-PACs (large independent political action committees) and hyper-partisan activist movements (e.g. The Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street) is lauded by some as an example of democracy at work in a time of government ineptitude. Others feel to echo the Russian writer, Anton Chekhov: "Love, friendship, and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred of something." What do you think - is the emergence of these groups healthy? What does it bode for politics, "the art of compromise", to have such groups gaining greater influence over campaigns and party platforms?
2. In what ways, if any, do activist groups influence you?
Questions on Politics and Religion.
1. Few Americans see any religion as uniquely true. Do Americans see political ideology in a similar way? Or, do we believe that our own particular ideology is uniquely "true"? Stated another way, has politics become more dogmatic than religion?
2. In 1980, the two major parties took definitive, opposing positions on abortion; subsequently, a growing number of younger Americans have come to equate religion with "Republican" and turned away from religion. Since 1980, the percentage of college freshmen claiming no religious identification (a.k.a. "the nones") has nearly tripled (from 8% to 22%). How has the politicization of religion affected you religiously, politically, and socially?
Questions on Mass Politicization.
1. While polticization itself is obviously not anything new, is it becoming more widespread and intense, something veering toward a tipping point, a phenomon a la globalization or commercialization? Or is the politicization of violent crimes, science, Islam, the media, breast cancer, etc. merely politics as usual, particularly as the two most intense and long-standing partisan issues, abortion and gay marriage, lose potency (with abortion losing acceptance and gay marriage gaining acceptance, both across party lines)?
2. If there is an increase in politicization, what is driving it? Any guess as to what might supplant abortion and gay marriage as the two primary drivers of party affiliation?
Questions on Activism.
1. The emergence of super-PACs (large independent political action committees) and hyper-partisan activist movements (e.g. The Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street) is lauded by some as an example of democracy at work in a time of government ineptitude. Others feel to echo the Russian writer, Anton Chekhov: "Love, friendship, and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred of something." What do you think - is the emergence of these groups healthy? What does it bode for politics, "the art of compromise", to have such groups gaining greater influence over campaigns and party platforms?
2. In what ways, if any, do activist groups influence you?
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