How do Religious Beliefs affect Politics?

"How do Religious beliefs affect Politics?” this question will immediately make you think of many words, but I think the first two words that will come to my mind are influential and controversial. I think politics and religion have been a part of the world since the start of human kind and it is very essential to understand its effects on the people but also to the entire world, especially about globalization. When I say that religion and politics are influential, it is because religion can affect the way of living by a person, so is politics. They are also both controversial because many events that have happened all around the world that are somewhat bloody and a little unconventional.

Let us first differentiate religion from politics. When we say religion, we immediately think of a higher power, specifically God. We also talk about beliefs, divinity and meaning of life. While politics on the other hand is about being governed by fellow human being, it also talks about laws specifically in a nation, municipality or anywhere there’s government, there’s politics. Religion is about divinity, beyond human while politics is about government controlled by humans. So if you think closely, how can these two different perspectives of a person influence each other? Religious beliefs can affect politics in how the people with that specific religion use their religious beliefs as guidance in achieving their political goals.

From the book Global Politics, it was said that when you think of religion and global politics, you will immediately think of Islamic world. I think the author made this example because Islamic world or Islam to be exact is a very strict religion. From what I know, they value their religious beliefs very much that is connected to any decisions they will make especially when it comes to political goals. They have Islamism for them to continue living with both their religious beliefs and politics. This is their way to become modern without having to lose their values and beliefs. But along with these, they have been already convicted as people who are violent and their religion may seem to be the core of this violence. Because when you say Islam or Muslim, people may immediately think that that person is a terrorist. Their religion is already being tainted with their unconventional way of pursuing political achievements.

But of course, not all religions are aimed for violence in taking in global politics. Some religion uses their beliefs in building new bases of mass popular support. A religious institution is also capable of forming alliances of the sort traditionally seen in global politics (Mandaville, 2008). But some believes that the church should be separated from the state. Some say that this is so because of the differences between cultures. Different religions have different beliefs, and this makes the connection between other people or countries hard or impossible because of cultural and religious differences. And this could result into more complications and hindrance for globalization.

I think even if we separate or put religion and politics together, it will always have the same effect. I think religious beliefs will always serve as guidance for global politics or it can also be hindrance for political goals. Either way religion will somewhat control politics because maybe religion is more powerful than politics will ever be.

What happens if we don't think in HUMAN TERMS?

When we say Human, what immediately come to our minds? The best description for HUMANS is they're species who are capable of thinking, rationalizing and speaking because of their advanced and developed brains. Compared to other species, we humans are the only species capable of language and development. Because of these advantages, as thousands of years passed we were able to adapt to environmental changes and improve our human lives. But of course, I think what really separates us from animals and other living things is our ability to feel and express emotions. We express love, sorrow, pain, etc. But from what I also remember from a homily while attending a Sunday mass, we, humans have also our spirit. This spirit serves as our life, meaning that our existence shouldn't value worldly things because these things don’t really make us HUMANS. We humans are always in search for a higher cost in our lives. We have this belief that someone higher than us or divine is the cost and the source of our lives.

So now that I've described what a HUMAN is. I think when someone says that we should think in human terms, it only means that a person should never forget his identity of being human. For many years, the changes people have gone through can be seen not only physically, mentally and socially but also with their environments. Of course, as being superior to other beings, we are the one responsible for changing this world. But during these changes that the world and us are facing. I think that being human helps face the challenges and make it positive for our race. It is a shame though to admit that sometimes we forget that we are humans, capable of mistake and errors, we sometimes think that we are infallible that we do drastic changes in our lives that resulted into negative lifestyle and habits. We sometimes forget that as humans, we should also do our best to keep the values and principles that we had because of changing times.

Globalization, I believe has both negative and positive effects in our lives. Globalization has helped us improve and make our lives easier but I also think in some way it is destroying our ability to think as humans. We shouldn't let technology or any other things make us forget of how to think as a human being. We should always remind ourselves of our human capabilities and limits, these have helped us improved our lives so it shouldn't be a hindrance. I think that thinking in HUMAN terms is the reason why humans became superior to other living things. Because nowadays, other things are capable of thinking but thinking is not the only component that helps us survive this world. It is our entire definition of being HUMAN that makes us progressive and adaptive to changes.

As I've said being human means being able to feel and think at the same time and also having this spirit and feeding this spirit. If we don't forget about the human characteristics described above, we know what path to go to, we are aware of the future and we know how to make the world a better place to live in.

WELCOME!

I am Leizel Marie G. Avila. A Third year, BS-Psychology student of De La Salle University - Manila. This will be my blog account exclusively for my GLOBDEV class. Feel free to read and even comment on my blogs. Ciao! :)