Plus: One of America’s leading public intellectuals praises the "civic theology" of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
How cynical are Americans about religion in politics? |
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| | An interesting discrepancy in how voters react to religiously infused politics is on display in a recent Deseret News/HarrisX poll. While religion remains an important factor in how Americans vote, voters are more cynical than ever about what politicians say about their faith, suggesting that messages of personal religious conviction may be less important to Republican voters than the policy or cultural positions of a given candidate. Over half the country, 55% — including 61% of Republicans, 57% of Democrats and 46% of independents — say religion is important in deciding who they vote for. However, when asked whether most politicians advertise their religious beliefs out of genuine conviction or as an attempt to get more votes, nearly seven out of 10 respondents opted for the more cynical take. A surprising 62% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats and 78% of independents share the perception that when a politician appeals to religious values, they are motivated by political gain. These data points come amid ongoing disagreement over Trump’s impact on how the Republican Party incorporates religion into its politics. Some claim the former president’s behavior has shifted the focus of religious appeals in the GOP from personal testimonies to patriotic identity. While others insist Trump’s style is helping him achieve what his predecessors failed to do: translate a message of religious values into policies that actually do something to protect the future of the country’s faith traditions. “The question is, would you rather have a public culture in which people were defending and propagating religious imagery as a positive thing? Or would you rather have a religious culture in which it’s banished to the realm of private life where it’s slowly dying an obvious death?” Yoram Hazony, chairman of the Edmund Burke Foundation, asked during an interview with the Deseret News. |
Read more about how Trump changed the way religion is talked about in the Republican Party. |
| One of America’s leading public intellectuals, a self-described atheistic Jewish gay man, is neither eager to see the flight from Christian churches, nor is he buying an all-too-convenient “society is to blame” explanation for this phenomenon, writes Paul Edwards, the director of the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University. Rauch has warned that the deterioration of American Christianity threatens America’s pluralistic democracy. He has also warned that our democracy is threatened by the reactive response of some American Christian thought leaders who blame our liberal democracy for the demise of their own church communities. So, is there an institution we can look to as a model for preserving both pluralism and faith? Rauch says yes. And he finds it in what he calls the “civic theology” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Within the Latter-day Saint tradition, Rauch sees an example of a healthier and mutually supportive relationship between constitutional democracy and a self-sustaining Christian faith. Read more about Rauch's praise for the Latter-day Saint approach to civic engagement. More in Politics Former President Donald Trump endorses Ohio Republican for speaker (Deseret News) ‘Grocery store voters’ aren’t buying Bidenomics (Deseret News) Utah sheriffs decry 'misleading' ICE memo, call out Senate candidate Trent Staggs (KSL) | FROM UTAH BUSINESS Are you ready to drive your business to new heights? Join us at Utah Business Forward on Nov. 16 Designed exclusively for executives to discover cutting-edge strategies, engage with industry experts, and network with like-minded professionals. Tracks include Entrepreneurship, International Business, Marketing, People & Culture, and Strategy. Purchase tickets now at forward.utahbusiness.com. | Health Can dads get postpartum depression? (Deseret News) Utahns celebrate bipartisan bill allowing immigrant children to be eligible for health benefits (KSL) Faith With Israel at war, here’s an update on the status of the BYU Jerusalem Center, students (Deseret News) Columbus controversy? Knights of Columbus are too busy doing good (Deseret News) Family Leah Libresco Sargeant: The problem with valuing parenting like paid labor (Deseret News) Naomi Schaefer Riley: The best place for kids isn’t always their home (Deseret News) Salt Lake County Salt Lake City synagogue evacuated after bomb threat (FOX 13) Riverton High teacher wins $50,000 for his automotive classes (KSL) Utah County New facility opens in Utah County, aims to help children with autism be successful (KSL) The Dungeon Master is in: Getting group therapy through Dungeons & Dragons at BYU (KUER) The West Indigenous land acknowledgments are everywhere. Do they accomplish anything? (Arizona Republic) With Las Vegas F1 tickets costing thousands, who will fill the grandstands? (Nevada Independent) The Nation U.S. officials are investigating reports that Americans are among the dead in Israel (Deseret News) Former BYU general counsel and federal judge returns to Washington, D.C., for portrait unveiling (Deseret News) The World Earthquake in Afghanistan kills thousands (Deseret News) How world leaders are responding to a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants (Deseret News) Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks (Wall Street Journal 🔒) Sports Has Utah State turned a corner? (Deseret News) How the Jazz fared in their first preseason game (Deseret News) Gordon Hayward’s family gets a visit from Latter-day Saint missionaries (Deseret News) How did Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp look in their first game together? (Deseret News) |
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