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Nations under God : how churches use moral authority to influence policy / Anna Grzymała-Busse.

By: Grzymała-Busse, Anna Maria, 1970-Publisher: Princeton : Princeton University Press, 2015Description: 421 pages cmContent type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9780691164755; 0691164754; 9780691164762; 0691164762Subject(s): Christianity and politics | Church and state | Democracy -- Religious aspects -- Christianity | Nationalism -- Religious aspects -- ChristianityDDC classification: 261.7 LOC classification: BR115 .P7 | G79 2015Other classification: REL084000 | REL108000 | POL007000 | POL028000
Contents:
Introduction -- Weapons of the meek -- Catholic monopolies -- Post-communist divergence -- Religious pluralism and church influence -- Conclusion : where churches matter -- Appendix: Further tests of the argument.
Summary: "In some religious countries, churches have drafted constitutions, restricted abortion, and controlled education. In others, church influence on public policy is far weaker. Why? Nations under God argues that where religious and national identities have historically fused, churches gain enormous moral authority--and covert institutional access. These powerful churches then shape policy in backrooms and secret meetings instead of through open democratic channels such as political parties or the ballot box. Through an in-depth historical analysis of six Christian democracies that share similar religious profiles yet differ in their policy outcomes--Ireland and Italy, Poland and Croatia, and the United States and Canada--Anna Grzymała-Busse examines how churches influenced education, abortion, divorce, stem cell research, and same-sex marriage. She argues that churches gain the greatest political advantage when they appear to be above politics. Because institutional access is covert, they retain their moral authority and their reputation as defenders of the national interest and the common good. Nations under God shows how powerful church officials in Ireland, Canada, and Poland have directly written legislation, vetoed policies, and vetted high-ranking officials. It demonstrates that religiosity itself is not enough for churches to influence politics--churches in Italy and Croatia, for example, are not as influential as we might think--and that churches allied to political parties, such as in the United States, have less influence than their notoriety suggests"-- Provided by publisher.
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Main shelves 		BR115. P7G79 2015 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available B013158
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BR115. J8T46 2003 Justice and peace : BR115. L25D22 Dare we speak of God in public? : BR115. P7C379 Christian thinking and social order : BR115. P7G79 2015 Nations under God : BR115. P7M318 2010 Faith in politics : BR115. P7N375 Faith and power : BR115. P7O36 2004 Bonds of imperfection :

"In some religious countries, churches have drafted constitutions, restricted abortion, and controlled education. In others, church influence on public policy is far weaker. Why? Nations under God argues that where religious and national identities have historically fused, churches gain enormous moral authority--and covert institutional access. These powerful churches then shape policy in backrooms and secret meetings instead of through open democratic channels such as political parties or the ballot box. Through an in-depth historical analysis of six Christian democracies that share similar religious profiles yet differ in their policy outcomes--Ireland and Italy, Poland and Croatia, and the United States and Canada--Anna Grzymała-Busse examines how churches influenced education, abortion, divorce, stem cell research, and same-sex marriage. She argues that churches gain the greatest political advantage when they appear to be above politics. Because institutional access is covert, they retain their moral authority and their reputation as defenders of the national interest and the common good. Nations under God shows how powerful church officials in Ireland, Canada, and Poland have directly written legislation, vetoed policies, and vetted high-ranking officials. It demonstrates that religiosity itself is not enough for churches to influence politics--churches in Italy and Croatia, for example, are not as influential as we might think--and that churches allied to political parties, such as in the United States, have less influence than their notoriety suggests"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Weapons of the meek -- Catholic monopolies -- Post-communist divergence -- Religious pluralism and church influence -- Conclusion : where churches matter -- Appendix: Further tests of the argument.

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