Religious Political Ideologies
How religious traditions generate political programs, from Christian democracy and Islamic constitutionalism to Hindu nationalism and liberation theology.
Faith as Political Framework
The idea that religion and politics can be separated is historically unusual. For most of human history, political authority and religious authority were fused. The European Enlightenment project of secularism, separating church and state, is the exception, not the rule. And even in ostensibly secular democracies, religious values continue to shape political debate, from abortion law in the United States to alcohol regulation in Scandinavia.
Religious political ideologies are not simply 'religion plus politics.' They are systematic programs that derive policy positions from theological principles. They answer the questions every ideology must: What is the good society? What is the role of the state? What are the limits of individual freedom? They just answer them with reference to divine authority rather than secular philosophy.
