User:LGreg/sandbox/Approaches to Knowledge (LG seminar)/Group1/Power/Religion and Politics

Introduction

Culture and religion have always been intimately related, in the way that diverse religions in the world plays a special and considerable role in the evolution of a society and more broadly of a culture. In fact, the shaping of a nation was and is still largely influenced by religions, especially in terms of politics.

Place of power in Religion and Politics

Different historical models

In the first configuration, religion and politics come together as united fields, working together in a mutual attempt to monopolize power. This model is qualified as an integration and sharing model. In contrast to the previous one, this model outlines a political state outstanding and overpowering the field of religion, still using it for its proper interests. Here model religion plays a subservient role in politics. Ultimately, comes the last model, where religion and politics come into conflict with each other, eventually leading to their separation. Here they appear as rivals, in a struggle for power.

A struggle for power

Power has an important place within the fields of politics and religion. Both want to acquire authority and control to fulfill their aims. Religion rallies people's faith to get support from there while Politics in states use diplomacy in order to win public opinion, in democracy, or usurps power with the help of the army in under-developed societies. In this power struggle, each of them needs to undermine the other to gain supremacy and better rule the state. Their respective authority relies on distinct principles, either being spiritual or based on the direct needs and requirements of society. As a point of fact, religion's guidance is grounded upon divine laws which can not be changed by human intervention, in contrast to politics' fundamentals. Qualified of pragmatic, the latter permanently moves ahead, adjusts and evolves, changing its laws and government systems as new challenges arise.