It’s not all about politics

The latest session of the UN General Assembly was dominated by talk of religion, particularly Islam and its more than a billion followers detesting what they see as western intimidation by mocking at Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The strongest man of the session, US President Barack Obama, had to defend a basic liberal principle: Freedom of expression, while teaching a lesson to those who violently reject it.

The “Great Satan” — as Iran refers to the US — found itself in the middle of a dilemma that it had nothing to do with it: American-Egyptian Copts propagated a video insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Though a French newspaper published a fresh cartoon mocking the Prophet (PBUH), it did not divert the heat away from America. Given the Sunni-Shiite tension in the Middle East, the militant intimidation of Christian minorities in Muslim countries, the ethno-sectarian conflict in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region, American presidential election campaign is not in need of another religion-linked headache at home. But the 21st century is becoming more and more the “Century of religion” and the US being the only superpower, should shoulder the consequences of that shift.

The fiasco in the Democratic Party Convention, about a change in language of the party platform, was indicative of a rising trend in American politics, rather than just election campaign manoeuvring. Religion has a more prominent role now in the US presidential elections than before and could be even more significant in 2016 than it is now. The Democratic party leadership wanted to reinstate words the “God” and [occupied] “Jerusalem” at the platform. That religious language was already there in the 2008 campaign, but was omitted since. But now media reports suggest Obama wanted them back. Opposition to the change was embarrassing and indicated the sensitivity to the rising “religiosity” in politics.

That comes as culmination of a more faith-based rhetoric in this year’s election campaign. A recent example was when Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the most senior US Catholic leader, accepted invitation to give a benediction at the Republican National Convention in Florida when Mitt Romney accepted the party’s presidential nomination. The New York Cardinal also accepted a Democratic Convention invitation to lead the prayers there as well. Catholic voters are traditional Democratic party voters, while Evangelical Christians vote for Republicans.

Though many Americans will promptly tell you: “We don’t vote for a president on religious lines, we vote for candidates on policies”, the reality is that religion is influencing voters more and more now. Evangelists and Catholics account for more than half American voters. And the Church is cross with Obama for his health care reforms that provide all Americans with birth-control and abortion options. Add to that gay marriage, which Obama recently endorsed — wooing liberal votes — while Romney opposes it. Some Americans still think that Obama is a Muslim. Yet, that doesn’t mean that Americans are becoming more “religious” and turning more to God than reason and material life. Actually, religion in politics is far from a “spiritual” trend, but more of pragmatic “opportunism”.

Religion might not much affect the outcome of this presidential election in the US, but the rhetoric by politicians and extensive media coverage could make it more significant in the elections four years later. The world is starting to see more of “religion in politics” in different parts of it. Arab countries undergoing changes are embracing political Islam and the church is reclaiming a lost role in Eastern European countries that witnessed in the different ‘colour’ revolutions. As the middle-class in many developed countries is squeezed more and more due to longer economic recession, people turn to religion to seek help. Nothing can palliate the pains of the global financial crises like returning to God — as man is deepening the consequences of the crisis to the verge of depression.

This is not to suggest that the US is leaning towards a “theocracy”, yet religion in politics is on the rise. That is actually more or less the theme of the 21st century; the Century of Religion. Man-made ideologies and grand theories are fading and people are losing faith in political systems and regimes. If the global trend is more faith-based, the US should lead.

None of the two presidential candidates produced a solid answer to America’s economic malaise. Promises of using conventional policy tools to keep things going and hoping they will “pick-up” are not satisfying anybody. So, religious rhetoric (pro and against) might help the vote. As politicians nowadays are known for reneging on election promises, religious talk can be scraped and reinstated when needed. Unfortunately, what precipitates in the public mind cannot be scraped easily and more politico-religious rhetoric is galvanising the theme of a religious century. Not just all religions but even cult-thinking and practising will matter in the future. May God help us all face what’s to come!

Dr Ayman Mustafa is a London-based Arab writer.