In ‘The Will to Power', Nietzsche presents religion as an illusion which creates a psychological confusion. The religious man is viewed as a sick man who invents a personal explanation of the world around him. In the Critique of Hegel's philosophy of law Marx, opines that religion is a reflection created by man. This reflection presents the dream of what man does not possess, but aspires to own. This reflection may prove to be harmful because it blinds man to his own reality. Religion, said Marx, is the opium of the people. Thus Religion for these two philosophers is not only an illusion but also a negative influence on mankind.
[...] It is clear that this war corresponds primarily to certain strategic interests of the United States. Thus the strategy of preventive war is a political and military strategy. The God invoked by Bush is removed from his religious and institutional foundations. He is a God of rhetoric who is fully exploited by political power and strategy. There is a tendency the world over to think that all the wars waged by the Americans (Iraq War, Vietnam are religious wars. America is perceived as acting out of the conviction that they are God's chosen people, and these wars are finally counted as missions. [...]
[...] The policy in these instances is not strictly "religious" but it is based on the moral and religious values considered relevant to it. They thus exploit religion without directly involving it. However, such instrumentalization of religion cannot have positive effects. Hazards of the instrumentalization of religion a. Religion as an instrument for war The great danger in a country as religious as the United States is that a political leader should excessively demonizes an opponent, citing for a reason the great battle of good and Evil. [...]
[...] In his book, “Democracy in America”, Tocqueville opines that Christianity is the religion that seems best suited to democratic societies because it fulfills all the criteria which, according to him a democratic religion should have. While Islam and Hinduism are religions, which in the eyes of Tocqueville lead to a stationary civilization characterized by political despotism, religious leaders, social immobility, poverty and economic stagnation of the arts and Science, Christianity is more supportive of equality. Tocqueville stated that, "it was that Jesus Christ who came to earth to make it clear that all members of the human race course were similar and equal” (De Democracy in America, II, Part and Chapter III). [...]
[...] II - The relationship between policy and the American religion In principle, the United States of America are neutral in matters of religion The separation of the church and state that exists in the United States is a political tradition affirmed by the Constitution and sanctioned by the Supreme Court and the federal courts. The only references to religion are negative and Article Section 3 of the constitution stipulates that no religious test shall be required of staff and elected officials of the Federal Government. [...]
[...] Religion in the United States is not monolithic, but has many religious expressions owing to Protestant logic and effects of immigration. There is no single dogma, or one true religion, but a plurality of religions which are viewed as equal. This explains the ease with which an American changes his religion. From this religious diversity, emerges a set of moral principles which unite Americans in a strong collective national conscience. Thus, for example Thanksgiving, which is a religious festival commemorating the arrival of the Pilgrims on the ship Mayflower, is celebrated by almost all Americans, Jews or Muslims. [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
