As Election Day approaches, public radio stations around the state are exploring how Texans’ religious beliefs will influence how they think about voting in November and the larger role of government in general. This is the first in a weekly series we’ll bring you.
One Sunday earlier this month, the Rev. Robert Jeffries began his sermon at the First Baptist Church of Dallas with a sentiment that will resonate with everyone at this point in election season.
“Today we’re going to talk about politics,” Jeffries said. “Hmmmm!”
Pastor Jeffries told his church of about 16,000 members that religion and politics cannot be separated.
“Government is a creation of God. Genesis chapter 9. After the flood, God gave Noah the foundation for government,” Jeffries said.
The connection between the two can be seen everywhere.
We pledge allegiance to “one nation under God.” Most swearing-in ceremonies for public officials involve placing one’s hand on a holy book, such as the Bible. It is also common for religious leaders to be invited to give an opening prayer or blessing before the Texas Legislature begins its sessions.
The connection extends beyond ritual, with faith (most often Christian) influencing actual policy decisions. Just this week, the Texas Board of Education met to discuss a proposed new elementary school reading curriculum that would include stories from the Bible. A Texas law enacted last year allows clergy to volunteer and be employed as school counselors. Religion also came up when Texas Republican lawmakers backed a bill banning gender reassignment care in the state. And Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick recently said he would try again to pass a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public schools.
Texas could and should have been the first state in the nation to bring the 10 Commandments back to schools. Last session, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 1515 by Senator Phil King on April 20, sending it to the House of Representatives to do the same thing Louisiana did. Every time… pic.twitter.com/mjGrtSEmwx
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) June 20, 2024
These are just a few examples.
Andrea Hatcher, a political science professor at Southern University, believes the Republican Party’s embrace of religion dates back to the 1970s.
“The Christian Right didn’t emerge organically,” Hatcher said, “It was the creation of religious and political elites who thought the Republican Party could use religion for political power to benefit both sides.”
Hatcher said that was made clear in the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“You have six Catholics on the Supreme Court, and all of a sudden they vote in a particular way that aligns with their religious views,” Hatcher said. One of those Catholics, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, voted against overturning Roe, but Hatcher said the decision “raises questions about whether individual religious beliefs influence and shape policy outcomes across a religiously pluralistic nation.”
This religiously pluralist nation was established by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which Hatcher said “makes it clear that religion cannot be used to instil theocratic policies.”
Of course, it’s not just the Republicans who currently dominate Texas leadership whose religious views influence their policy outlook.
“Religion is important in people’s lives and shapes people’s worldview, and that will always influence political behavior,” Hatcher said.
State Rep. James Talarico, a Central Texas Democrat and Christian, says he takes his religious background into account when making policy decisions.
“I believe that if you are a religious person, your religious views should be reflected in your vote,” Talarico said.
However, decisions such as the Supreme Court’s Roe decision are not in line with his view of the Bible.
“If you open the Bible, you’ll find 2,000 verses about economic justice and zero about abortion,” Talarico said. “There are hundreds of verses about welcoming the stranger, lifting up the poor, treating your neighbor with respect, healing the sick.”
He also speaks out against politicians who “use Christianity to hurt LGBTQ people,” saying there is no “biblical evidence” to back it up.
These differences of opinion over the interpretation of the Bible long predate our current political struggles.
Eric McDaniel, a political science professor at the University of Texas at Austin, worries that these differences could stifle meaningful dialogue and compromise in Texas and across the nation.
“We’re seeing a rise in Christian fundamentalism, where everything is black and white and there’s no discussion of the grey areas,” McDaniel said, “but other religions allow abortion. A lot of people say that restricting abortion infringes on their religious freedom.”
He said the current state of the country is best summed up in the words of the Rev. Al Sharpton:
“He said this is a battle between the Christian right and right-wing Christians. I believe this is a battle between fundamentalism and moderation,” McDaniel said. “Furthermore, fundamentalism is anti-democratic.”
As Election Day approaches, political and religious rhetoric is sure to intensify, highlighting the complex relationship between faith, politics, and what our state and national governments will look like in the future.
