Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Keep religion and politics separate

I've previously expressed my scepticism about the idea of religion existing within a secular society. Is it really possible for the deeply religious to keep their religion private and not have it interfere with public life? Well in today's Sunday Time Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks (Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth) explains how crucial it is to keep religion and politics separate.

Sacks covers disastrous episodes in history that have resulted from the mixing of religion and politics and is concerned that we may be headed in that direction again:

We are living in an age in which, not just in Britain but throughout the world, many people are disillusioned with secular politics, and are turning to religion instead. In itself that is a blessing. Religious faith is our noblest effort to understand ourselves and our place in the universe. The expansive air of the spirit redeems the narrowness of the material world. But to expect it to solve political problems is to invite disaster. Religion becomes political at its peril, and ours.

Sacks explains what liberal democracy can offer that religion doesn't:

Liberal democracy does what few great religions have ever achieved. It makes space for difference. It honours the person regardless of his or her beliefs. It allows societies to negotiate change without catastrophe. It teaches us the difficult arts of listening to our opponents and - in Isaiah's phrase - 'reasoning together'. These are modest virtues but necessary ones.

And:

Politics knows what religion sometimes forgets, that the imposition of truth by force and the suppression of dissent by power is the end of freedom and a denial of human dignity.

Sacks explains that it's the 'existence of alternatives, the clash of opinions' that keeps democracy alive and that this is where politics and religion differ. Personally I think that these are also the qualities required for contemplating the 'big questions' which Sacks considers to be the domain of dogmatic religion.

Of course, I'd prefer it if religion kept out of both politics and ethics, but I'm very happy to see Sacks speaking out in this way. I guess it's easier for a leader from a minority religion to support the separation of religion and politics, but with the current situations in the US and the Islamic world, it's certainly welcome.

Comments

[vjack]

Good one. I'm always on the lookout for evidence that religious people can be sensible, and this story is a nice illustration.

[Sportin' Life]

Personally I think that these are also the qualities required for contemplating the 'big questions' which Sacks considers to be the domain of dogmatic religion.

Yes, I agree. Sacks' statement that "Religious faith is our noblest effort to understand ourselves and our place in the universe," seems incompatible with his argument.

[UberKuh]

I agree that this view is welcome given the current state of world affairs, with my country leading the war against rationality, but to suggest that religion should have nothing to do with science is, likewise, irrational, since religion is commentary on our ignorance and hopes and dreams about the world, which are things that science naturally affects continually.

[Al Kasprzyk]

I discovered your blog only the other day, and have just read it from the beginning. But you don't seem to have posted for a while now - I hope this is due to festive exuberance at home, and not a sign that you've given up the blog! Please keep posting! Best wishes.

[vjack]

Good post. I always like to highlight stuff like this just so that I remember that not all religious people are pro-theocracy.

[beepbeepitsme]

GO Rabbi Jonathan Sacks!

[Reverend]

This is a nice story and good to hear. I use a web site called www.onlineblessings.com to send blessings to my friends and family in hopes of generating good stories such as this one.

[Simon]

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[Geoff]

'In itself that is a blessing.' That's like saying 'rather than confront the facts, it's better to embrace ignorance and consider it a virtue'.

[bpabbott]

Quote: "Sacks explains that it's the 'existence of alternatives, the clash of opinions' that keeps democracy alive and that this is where politics and religion differ. Personally I think that these are also the qualities required for contemplating the 'big questions' which Sacks considers to be the domain of dogmatic religion."

hmmm ... I don't know Sacks, but I don't have any reason to believe his religion is "dogmatic".

Religion doesn't have to be dogmatic, any more than any philosophy does.

At the same time, I've met more than a few dogmatic secularists and even a few dogmatic atheists.

I think it important to point out dogmatic practices where ever we encounter them, but such should be done explicitly. Otherwise, the practice one will appear to be dogmatic himself :-(

[ovelejeclaire]

Sorry plezsse :(
Wronjg categdory...

willl ber caresffujl

[NetoPingeR]

Hi. Test post 333
1

[John Sebastian]

You're a Jew because you were brought up to be a Jew. Had you been brought up a Muslim, you'd have been a Muslim. There is no evidence for God. You were educated to be specifically a Jew.

[lapa]

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He has, also, translated into Portuguese the Wealth of Mations by Adam Smith.

He has been awarded several prizes.

Don't forget the name of this great author, you'll be hearing of him soon.

[jammarlibre]

Good night
Thanks for your site.

[CheckPoint Reality]

That's really interesting. As I was recently reading an article pertaining to Religion and Politics. I found myself a bit irritated that the two seem to mend together, perhaps irrational thoughts - but being from the states it does state in the constituion the two should remain seperate however - our former president states we are all one under God. Left me wondering "Who's God? Your God?". Great article/post.

[USpace]

.
Support GLBT Rights! Fight back against those that stone gays to death! Democracy NOT Theocracy!

STOP KUFFARPHOBIA Demonstration at Whitehall in London, 12pm Friday 10/26/07!

I think we all must start calling the Islamofascists 'racists'. We should scream that they are hateful towards the Christian race, and the Jewish race, and the Hindu race, and the Atheist Race, that they are Christianityphobiasts. They will scream that Christianity is not a race, and we'll say:

"See, Islam is NOT a race either.
And by the way, the Bible doesn't say to convert, conquer or kill non-Christians; like the Koran says to do to non-Muslims. So there YOU RACIST hater of non-Muslims! You're a Kuffarphobic!"

Be careful all you in London Friday 10/26!

absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
don't call a spade a spade

Islamist terrorism
not related to Islam

absurd thought -
God of the Universe wants
many Taliban planets

stonings and beheadings
billions killed daily

absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
be very afraid...

of saying the wrong things
TRUTH is especially BAD

http://absurdthoughtsaboutgod.blogspot.com

:)
. .

[RedsUttertsit]

No committee could ever come up with anything as revolutionary as a camel --
anything as practical and as perfectly designed to perform effectively under
such difficult conditions.
-- Laurence J. Peter

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