Religious Belief and Polarization: A Cause or Cure?
Toxic polarization may be at a tipping point with politically-motivated violence on an increase. Does religious belief contribute to it, or is it critical to counter it?
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A recent Wall Street Journal that cataloged the increase in political violence on the far right and far left alarmingly reported that “as politically motivated attacks have proliferated, Americans have become more inured—and more open—to violence as a means to a political end… 10% of those surveyed [in June] said the use of force would be justified to prevent Trump from returning to the White House, while 7% said violence would be acceptable to restore him to power.”
An important study released this month by More In Common, an organization that seeks common ground by fostering understanding of the forces that divide us, suggests that three myths about religion and American political life misinform our views of people with strongly held religious belief. These myths contribute to polarization and obscure the critical role that personal religious belief and institutions could play in reducing toxic polarization. The three myths they debunk are:
Faith is driven by politics. Many non-Evangelicals tend to overestimate the role that political identity and partisan affiliation play in the lives of Evangelicals. While only 4 percent of Evangelicals consider their political party their most significant identity, non-Evangelicals believe this number to be as high as 40 percent. Likewise, only about 1 in 10 people across differing religious groups in America report that being a Democrat or Republican is their most important identity. This misperception has led to a phenomenon the report terms “collateral contempt,” where Democrats and Independents overestimate the proportion of Republicans among Evangelicals, resulting in more negative views toward Evangelicals as a whole. In reality, Evangelical Christians are politically diverse: 46% identify as Republicans, 22% as Democrats, and 26% as independents. Notably, Gen Z Evangelicals reflect this diversity, with an even distribution among these groups.
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Faith is becoming irrelevant. The media frequently highlights the perception that faith is in decline. While it is true that more people are identifying as non-religious, this focus can create the misleading impression that religious spaces are losing their significance. In truth, 73% of Americans regard their faith as an important part of their identity. Similarly, there is a ubiquitous belief that Gen Z is becoming increasingly secular; however, two-thirds of this generation affirm that their faith is important to their identity. Although faith communities in the US have begun to look different than what we are accustomed to as they are evolving and embracing new innovations, this shift should not be misperceived as a loss of momentum but rather a sign of resilience.
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Religious people are intolerant. Regrettably, faith communities are often viewed as intolerant. Many Americans believe that only half of both Evangelicals and Muslims support religious pluralism. In reality, over 75% of both groups value pluralism. As a whole, Americans across all faith traditions, as well as those without religious affiliation, demonstrate strong support for religious freedom and pluralism.
Image provided by More in Common
The report sheds light on significant misunderstandings of faith communities in America. One survey participant of Christian faith emphasized this, stating, “Please do not paint us all with the same brush, because we are not all the same.” This remark reflects the consequences that perception gaps are having on various groups.
Over-politicizing and exaggerating the beliefs of religious groups hinders the potential for building bridges, which erodes shared common ground and further undermines unity. The report ultimately concludes that it is imperative to foster conversation to better understand the diverse population that is America’s faithful, in order to counter the forces that fuel division.
More in Common’s report importantly proposes several ways in which religious belief and institutions can be encouraged and elevated to help counter toxic polarization, inviting funders in particular to support:
Faith leaders: As trusted authorities, faith leaders have the opportunity to cultivate conversation about bridging divides and foster self reflection to further inspire unity.
Faith Organizations and Institutions: By actively supporting religious pluralism, organizations and institutions can combat perception gaps by fostering connections between people of different faiths and those who are religiously unaffiliated.
Those who tell the stories of who we are: Through sharing stories that honor our differences while emphasizing our commonalities, including the positive role of faith in most American’s lives, the media can portray a vision of a more unified America.
America’s Faithful: Faith communities must persevere in hope and interest for how they can participate in unifying the nation’s divides.
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At the Clapham Group, named after the faith-inspired community of abolitionists in the late 18th century, we understand that religious belief can be a critical component of movements to address injustices in society. We also know that faith communities play a critical role in a healthy, flourishing society by providing social capital of many forms. There is no question that some violent extremist views wrap their ideologies in religious language. Groups like the KKK and ISIS, interpret their sacred texts and actually appropriate established religious ceremonies and practices to justify their violence. We believe the way to counter this misappropriation is by amplifying the credentialed faith voices within their tribe that can challenge their perspectives and practices, rather than trying to critique them primarily from the outside, especially from competing “tribes” who don’t share their values and perspectives.
The Wall Street Journal article cited academics who study political violence who believe “at no time since the tumultuous 1960s and early ’70s have American public officials been so under siege.” If we want to avoid the possibility of more violence before and after the election this November, we need to invite, include, and provide resources to religious institutions to serve as mediators and counter-narrative voices to the toxic and even violent dialogue that is dominating our national conversation.