It was a curious comment. While I didn’t disagree with it, I was struck by it because it seemed out of context from anything else. The emailed comment simply said:
“Finished reading a booklet … on Christianity and Islam. Very basic and does not get into a lot of issues but I found it interesting. Convinced me that Islam and a republic form of government such as the US are not going to be compatible.”
For the sake of clarity, a republic is a form of government in which a significant portion of the citizens retain control of the government. Republics are generally contrasted with monarchies and dictatorships.
From my understanding of Islam, a republic can’t be reconciled with the belief in the supremacy of Allah – THE God. In Islam, true happiness is found in submitting oneself totally to God. The implication is that Allah will takes priority over any human endeavor, including the government.
But what about Christianity? Is Christianity compatible with a republic form of government? Or Judaism? Is there really any difference among the three religions that descended from Abraham in regard to their views of government?
The people of ancient Israel was first ruled by judges: prophetic leaders who interpreted the will of God in daily affairs. In effect, the judges were God’s governor’s in civil matters. Much of the ancient Jewish law contained in the book of Leviticus has nothing to do with religious observance. Instead, it addresses what we would today consider civil law and social customs. The basic concept behind ancient Jewish law was that if a person was a follower of God, then that person should lead life a certain way – not just in prayer, but every aspect of life. Further, when the people of ancient Israel wanted a monarch, the prophets called other forms of government idolatry because God was the head of state.
To understand the historical Christian perspective on government, we need to remember that Jesus and all of his first followers were Jews. Their understanding would have been shaped by the Jewish tradition. In other words, a follower of God should live all of life in accordance with a belief in God’s supremacy over all matters. Further, Jesus lived in an occupied country ruled by the Roman invaders. There was a good deal of tension between the government and ordinary people. Jesus and many of his first followers were killed for threatening the social order established by the government. The only comment attributed to Jesus about the government was a cryptic statement about taxes: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. This would seem to suggest that Jesus saw government as separate from the the living of a faithful life.
Of course, Christianity moved from being a religion (and way of life) of marginalized people to becomes a state-sponsored religion when the Emperor Constantine permitted Christian practices in the Roman Empire in 313 CE. Constantine used Christianity as a way to unite his empire and consolidate power resulting in a very close relationship between Christianity and the governments of Europe that continued into the 20th Century. But this history is far different from the origins of Christianity. In fact, the teachings of Jesus are to live and act in accordance with the Divine Will, not based on other social norms or government directives.
Because Islam is a religion that is unfamiliar to most Americans and because many public figures inspire fear and prejudice toward Muslims, it’s easy to fall prey to simplistic statements that may contain some truth about Islam but don’t present the entire picture. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are more similar to one another in their basic values than they are different from one another. At their foundations, none of these three religions is compatible with modern forms of government. They all hold the belief that governmental structures attempt to take the place of God in the lives of people. More important than their views on government are the core or central teachings shared by these three religions: they challenge their adherents to live in a way that is charactized by the equitable treatment of others and compassion as a primary ethic. The foundational teaching of all three of these religions is that charity toward others is the true sign of someone who follows God. Moses instructed the Israelites that their care for others was a sign of their convental relationship with God. Jesus told his followers, “By this they will know that you are my followers: that you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Even more clear is that showing charity is one of the five Pillars of Islam – the central characteristics required to be a Muslim. I have to wonder why it seems that no one talks much about the importance of this central teaching on charity in the Abrahamic religions. It is the guiding principle they all share. Perhaps you have some thoughts on why compassion and charity are topics so often avoided in discussions of religion.
Really? Think you need to read a newspaper!