Democracy and religion

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Democracy and religion

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Abstract

Religion and democracy, though resting on similar principles, have been at logger heads constantly. There are several instances in history that have depicted a constant clash between these two concepts. Democracy has battled with theocracy and has replaced in many parts of Europe. There have been incidents in the present too that have triggered such a response. One illustration from the past and another from the present can confirm the same.

Introduction
Example 1
Example 2
Inference from the illustrations
Commonalities
Religion and democracy feeding a relationship of competition and confrontation
1. Two antagonist systems in the formation of the political community
2. Coexistence between religion and democracy impossible
Consolidating modern democracy
1. Religious 'secular' heritages in modern democracies
2. Reconfiguration of religion, resulting in the legitimization of democracy and vice versa
Conclusion

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Extract

[...] Democratic modernity appears as an antireligious construction according to Pierre Manent, who concludes that democracy has been built against religion An impossible coexistence It is impossible to have a system combining religion and democracy. The emergence of democracy renders the need for such a political and social structure brought about by religion obsolete. Modernity is understood as "out of religion" (Marcel Gauchet). Conversely, the primacy of religious power implies a violation of democracy. The Islamization of political regimes on the model of Saudi Arabia in the late 1960s with the establishment of dictatorships is one such example. [...]

[...] Today normative value systems characterize modern democracy (human rights, fundamental rights, and the concept of rule of law) The influence of religion in democratization The role of religious actors in the struggle against authoritarianism and the path to democratization must be emphasized. The examples are numerous: The Solidarity movement in Poland, The struggle by the religious forces for the government to grant U.S. black civil rights in the 1950s, The struggle for democratization by Protestant pastors in Madagascar since 1990. [...]

[...] Religion and democracy help in the formation of a political community, but on opposite principles. Religion makes the man transcendent to a power and thus prevents them from defining themselves as members of a political community and a source of legitimacy of power. These antagonisms seem to render the coexistence between religion and democracy impossible. Coexistence between religion and democracy impossible A conflicting relationship between religion and democracy There was a power struggle between politics and religion, before the emergence of democracy. [...]

[...] This reconfiguration legitimizes the democratic model of building a political community by men Democracy legitimizing religion The struggle against the Enlightenment in Christianity was divided into two phases: the first, leading the fight against the power of commanding a view, The second, recognizing the opinion as legitimate, and even going up voluntarily to assign an eminent 'value'. Democracy rejects the political power of religion, but not its existence as a mere belief. Religion is secured by the freedom of the conscience and worship, which is characterized by democracy (Article 10 DDHC is the first example) Secularism: single model of reconciliation between democracy and religion Secularism is seen as an effective way to reconcile religion and democracy. [...]

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