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On Monday, the historic monument Notre Dame Cathedral caught on fire and evoked an outpour of support from everyone around world. People who have visited the cathedral posted pictures of their fond memories, celebrities shared their comments on social media, and political leaders reached out as well. With that said, in the wake of this tragic event, the “Judeo-Christian tradition” was called into question. 

The term gained traction during World War II after the USAT Dorchester sank with its four Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish chaplains and became a symbol of diversity. However, from class discussions and readings these two religions are not as similar as the term implies. 

While they both accept the Old Testament, Judaism does not believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. More so, their diets, attire, and festivals are differ greatly. So why is the term still used today? It’s possible that it’s being used a “partisan catchphrase” to give moral authority to their political and social influence on issues like abortion, religion in schools, same-sex marriage, bills etc. 

What I find interesting is that the term was meat to embrace diversity, but it excludes other religions like Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism etc. We were asked in class if we would classify America as a Christian nation and overall most of us said that while it is so culturally diverse and blended, Christianity is at the forefront of its identity and it goes way back. So while the term seems contradictory, to the mainstream people it seems fitting if not a given. 

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Abortion will always be an issue both religiously and politically and it is no different today. Red states are beginning to pass anti-abortion bills that raise some serious issues and just recently, Ohio became the third state to pass the “heartbeat” bill, which bans abortion as early as six weeks into the pregnancy. Kentucky and Mississippi are following suit and Georgia is the next to sign the bill.  

Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis went so far to say that, “The heartbeat bill is the next incremental step in our strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade.” This is not something new according to Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, but what’s different now is that the intentions of the opponents are clear.

However, what I wasn’t aware of is the multitude of laws and restrictions that are enforced aside from the “heartbeat bill.” Recently, North Dakota’s Republican governor signed a bill banning second-trimester abortion procedure known as dilation. Doctors who perform this procedure will be faced with up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 

These debates continue to create a divide in America and there probably always will be. This issue of abortion isn’t as partisan as we think it is because the strong religious views will always stand as an obstacle. The political elites have a great impact on the general public and while not all republicans are anti-abortion, we only see the conservative elites represent and talk about anti-abortion. Similarly, you don’t see many anti-abortion Democrats and what that shows is that the divide has also signified each party’s identity. We talked about the publics’ perception in regards to religion and politics in class. Political and cultural elites have the ability to influence their followers through their words and actions. It’s not just people, but the media companies themselves are influential. Consider the image used for this article, of a happy American family with generations gathered together witnessing an anti-abortion bill being passed. 

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As the presidential candidates declare their candidacy in the 2020 elections, one candidate in particular has caught the attention of the public and fellow candidates. 

Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced his candidacy this past Sunday and has made it clear that he is a Christian who values the scripture as well as championing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. He brings a new take for Democrats as they’ve been somewhat hesitant in the past to take strong stances on their religious views. Buttigieg explains that, “We have this totally warped idea of what Christianity should be like when it comes into the public sphere, and it’s mostly about exclusion, which is the last thing that I imbibe when I take in scripture in church.” His words and intentions have struck a chord with the public in what seems like a positive way. 

Watching the video made it very clear that the Republicans feel otherwise about his use of Christian faith. Most recently, Vice President Pence was asked about Buttigeig’s comments on his faith the LBGTQ community and answered that “Pete’s quarrel with the first amendment,” but it’s what Pence does with his faith that Mayor Pete takes issue with. The problem is the use and justification of religion to hurt people, specifically the LGBTQ community. 

What Mayor Pete evokes a positive feeling for the people, much like Martin Luther King. It’s about compassion and how we treat one another and VP Pence’s actions provokes issues for Mayor Pete, not his religion. What stuck out to me was when Donnie said that, “this country is ready for nice” and Mayor Pete has strength and kindness. I think that he will resonate with the younger generation today that are more open-minded, tolerant, and over all of the aggression and discourse the past couple of years have brought. 

We talked a lot about the “religious none” in class and I wonder if he will resonate with them too because while he does express his religious faith, he does not take advantage of and use it for political gain. 

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We often discuss the impact religion has on politics in class and it’s mostly how it can shape and influence people’s opinions and perspectives on social, economic, and political issues. Yes, there is a separation of church and state, but that doesn’t mean that religion doesn’t have a silent influence on decisions made. Take the issue of abortion for example and we can clearly see the religious views of certain parties come through at the forefront of debate. 

Moreover, religious views are taken into consideration when it comes to voters and how to gain them. Most of the republican right, are more conservative and Christian based in their values so if a political candidate presented themselves in a similar fashion, they would win their votes. This article shares some interesting points that support this idea. 

Trump has claimed that he goes to church and a firm believer in the bible, yet his actions pose questions about the validity of his words. What I find even more interesting is that his supporters know he’s not the best representation of Christian faith, but he defends it.  Trump had said, “ I go to church and I love God and I love my church." Is this really true? I’m not sure, but when he says things like, “Two Corinthians, 3:17, that's the whole ballgame,” I have to wonder is he serious or doing this for the votes? This comment made me raise an eyebrow when he described his version of taking communion as, “When I drink my little wine -- which is about the only wine I drink -- and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed." 

He may or may not be private about his faith, but his actions make me think he’s not really familiar with what Christian faith really means. Certainly, his actions and words shared across social media are not the best representation of understanding, forgiveness, and community. His actions speak louder than words.

I think this ties into our class discussions about the influence the “elite” can have in regards to religion and the social climate. Clearly what Trump says resonates with people, because he was elected President, but I wonder if that’s only because he said what they wanted to hear and that’s good enough for people? 

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On March 31 Nipsey Hussle was shot to death outside his clothing store in Los Angeles. Not only was he a talented artist, but a sort of pubic figure for his fans and city. He had something to say and people who were ready to listen to him advocate for the black community and fight the stereotypes. He wanted to give people hope and support that regardless of what neighborhood you’re from, it doesn’t define you and your actions. His store in LA was one example of how he was trying to elevate his neighborhood and make a positive impact on the younger generation. 

I first heard of Nipsey Hussle from my older brother who told me to listen to raps because they were authentic and deep. It’s interesting because I hadn’t known about before and I wouldn’t really call him mainstream rap, but there was no doubt that he was well known in the community. Talented and very well spoken, I was drawn to his message and impressed by his intentions for his community and the younger generation. I had just begun to really follow his story when he suddenly passed away. It was everywhere on social media and news stations. Over the next few days after his passing it was amazing just how many people he had effected with his music and activism. 

The article said something that really stuck out to me about why his passing was so impactful and it’s because, “love was at the core of his beliefs and behavior. Love of his craft. Love of his blackness. Love of his neighborhood...His death is even more haunting because the love he showed took place against the backdrop of unsettling violence, both real and imagined, both in structural forces and intimate spaces, often conjured or measured by his own pen.” When I read this I instantly thought of Martin Luther King. The people loved him and followed him because at his core he believed in the cause he was fighting for and was genuine in his intentions. Nipsey reminds me of MLK’s influence on people and just how admired and loved he was. He even called himself the “2Pac of my generation.”

We talked a lot MLK and Malcolm X and their impact on the black community. While they both had different approaches, they shared the love of their blackness and the conviction to make change. I feel like much of what Nipsey stood for was similar. His approach is more so like MLK because he did not want to evoke violence, but rather promote peace and acceptance of one another. We also discussed the influence “cultural elites” have on the general public. Like Eminem, Nipsey integrated religion, politics, and social issues in his raps to reach the masses and bring awareness to real issues. 

Regardless of race or religion, Nipsey was able to build bridges and relationships with people because of his characters and values. The Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan gave a eulogy at Nipsey’s funeral describing him as, “the prophetic voice of his community" and "a prophetic soul who is to hip-hop and rap what Bob Marley was to reggae." Nipsey brought communities together against all odds. 

It’s unfortunate that it takes death for people to realize the impact a person could have, but he leaves a legacy that has deeply changed the people he has touched.  

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There has been a shift in religious following and it’s been made clear that this change will continue and possibly grow. This article discusses the increase in the “religious none,” which just means those who have no religious affiliations. We’ve talked a lot about this in class and the possible reasons why the “religious none” continues to grow. Some said it could be from the lack of trust towards religious communities and their intentions, while others said that the newer generations lack interest because of the conservative beliefs religious communities hold and their lack of acceptance towards other races, beliefs, and sexual orientation. 

Studies show that 23.1% classify as “No Religion”, 23% as Catholic, and 22.5% as evangelical Christians. The religious none have been growing since 1991 at a 266% growth rate(Rubin) while numbers for mainline Protestants and Catholics have decreased over the years. The shift is most evident for the Millennials and GenXers and a study conducted last year by the American Family Survey shows that 44% of the 18-29 age group and roughly 43% of the 30-44 age group identify as None. Compare that to Americans older than 65, around 21% that are None. 

It seems that the religious leaders have neglected these younger generations who are more progressive and champion social responsibility and acceptance. In the past, political leaders focused on gaining the votes of religious communities to strengthen their platform. Republicans targeted the more traditional and conservative Churches that shared similar values like the United Methodist Church in regards to same-sex marriage, gay clergy, and abortion. Democrats tend to not put as much stress on these big religious communities, but more so on the value they would be offering society at large. However, the political climate is changing just as the religious climate. Newer religious sects that are more open and progressive are forming with values that align with Democrats. Political leaders need to also take into consideration when addressing the None voters that they are value-driven and they take note of the actions taken by society’s leaders, especially if their actions go against their values. This reiterates much of what we talked about in class about acknowledging and including the “religious none” because they have been continuously growing and their influence is getting stronger. 

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