The God Strategy : How Religion Became a Political Weapon in America

In The God Strategy , David Domke and Kevin Coe offer a timely and dynamic study of the rise of religion in American politics, examining the public messages of political leaders over the past seventy-five years--from the 1932 election of Franklin Roosevelt to the early stages of the 2008 presidential race. They conclude that U.S. politics today is defined by a calculated, deliberate, and partisan use of faith that is unprecedented in modern politics. Sectarian influences and expressions of faith have always been part of American politics, the authors observe, but a profound change occurred beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. What has developed since is a no-holds-barred religious politics that seeks to attract voters, identify and attack enemies, and solidify power. Domke and Coe identify a set of religious signals sent by both Republicans and Democrats in speeches, party platforms, proclamations, visits to audiences of faith, and even celebrations of Christmas. Sometimes these signals are intended for the eyes and ears of all Americans, and other times they are distinctly targeted to specific segments of the population. It's an approach that has been remarkably successful, utilized first and most extensively by the Republican Party to capture unprecedented power and then adopted by the Democratic Party, most notably by Bill Clinton in the 1990s and by a wide range of Democrats in the 2006 elections. ''For U.S. politicians today, having faith isn't enough; it must be displayed, carefully and publicly. This is a stark transformation in recent decades,'' write Domke and Coe. With innovative, accessible research and analytical verve, they document how this has occurred, who has done it and why, and what it means for the American experiment in democracy. ## Abstract Religion has always been a part of American politics, but something profound has changed in recent decades. This book demonstrates that, beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan as president in 1980, US politicians have employed religion as a partisan weapon, using it in a no-holds-barred calculus designed to attract voters, identify enemies, and solidify power. The book reveals this political approach by identifying four crucial religious signals used by leading Republicans and Democrats, from Reagan to Bill Clinton to George W. Bush to the front-running candidates for the 2008 presidential election. In their emphasis on God and faith in public addresses, commemorations of tragedies and requests for divine blessing for the nation, the issue agendas pursued, and even the audiences addressed and the nature of Christmas celebrations, today's political leaders use religion for partisan gain in a manner distinct from those who came before. These signals become apparent through analysis of thousands of public communications by American politicians over the past seventy-five years, the tracking of public sentiment on several topics during the same period, and the perspectives of interest groups and political strategists. The result of these developments is an environment in the United States in which religion and politics have become almost inseparably intertwined — an outcome which benefits savvy politicians but endangers the vitality of church, state, and the entire American experiment in democracy. This volume offers a timely and dynamic study of the rise of religion in American politics, examining the public messages of political leaders over the past seventy-five years. The authors show that U.S. politics today is defined by a calculated, deliberate, and partisan use of faith that is unprecedented in modern politics. Beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, America has seen a no-holds-barred religious politics that seeks to attract voters, identify and attack enemies, and solidify power. Domke and Coe identify a set of religious signals sent by both Republicans and Democrats in speeches, party platforms, proclamations, visits to audiences of faith, and even celebrations of Christmas. The updated edition of this ground-breaking book includes a new preface, an updated analysis of the last Bush administration, as well as a new final chapter on the Jeremiah Wright controversy, the candidacies of Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin, and Barack Obama's victory. Scholars David Domke and Kevin Coe offer a study of the rise of religion in American politics, examining the public messages of political leaders over the past seventy-five years-from the 1932 election of Franklin Roosevelt to the early stages of the 2008 presidential race. They conclude that U.S. politics today is defined by a calculated, deliberate, and partisan use of faith that is unprecedented in modern politics. Sectarian influences and expressions of faith have always been part of American politics, the authors observe, but a profound change occurred beginning with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. What has developed since is a no-holds-barred religious politics that seeks to attract voters, identify and attack enemies, and solidify power. With innovative, accessible research and analytical verve, they document how this has occurred, who has done it and why, and what it means for the American experiment in democracy. - Publisher Domke And Coe Study The Rise Of Religion In American Politics Examining The Public Messages Of Political Leaders Over The Past 75 Years - From The 1932 Election Of Fdr To The Early Stages Of The 2008 Presidential Race. They Conclude That Us Politics Today Is Defined By A Calculated, Deliberate, And Partisan Use Of Faith. One Nation Under God, Divisible -- Political Priests -- God And Country -- Acts Of Communion -- Morality Politics -- Religious Politics And Democratic Vitality. David Domke And Kevin Coe. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 159-223) And Index. Contents......Page 6 Introduction: A New Religious Politics......Page 10 One: One Nation under God, Divisible......Page 18 Two: Political Priests......Page 36 Three: God and Country......Page 56 Four: Acts of Communion......Page 78 Five: Morality Politics......Page 106 Six: Religious Politics and Democratic Vitality......Page 136 Epilogue: Act II......Page 158 Acknowledgments......Page 164 Notes......Page 166 B......Page 232 C......Page 233 F......Page 234 L......Page 235 P......Page 236 S......Page 237 W......Page 238 ISBN-13: 9780195326413 Contents 6 Introduction: A New Religious Politics 10 One: One Nation under God, Divisible 18 Two: Political Priests 36 Three: God and Country 56 Four: Acts of Communion 78 Five: Morality Politics 106 Six: Religious Politics and Democratic Vitality 136 Epilogue: Act II 158 Acknowledgments 164 Notes 166 Index 232 A 232 B 232 C 233 D 234 E 234 F 234 G 235 H 235 I 235 J 235 K 235 L 235 M 236 N 236 O 236 P 236 Q 237 R 237 S 237 T 238 U 238 V 238 W 238 Nation under god, divisible The language of the faithful God and country Acts of communion Morality politics Religious politics and democratic vitality.