Religion and Politics

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

Religion and Politics

THE steady decline of the moral tone of public life and the increase of corruption lead men to cast about for some remedy for a situation which is growing more and more appalling. Those who have not given careful study to the principles involved, or whose views upon this subject are fundamentally wrong, are inclined to feel that it is due to the fact that religion and government have to a large degree been kept separate in this country that political life has become corrupt. This view of the case finds expression in the following paragraph taken from one of our exchanges:—

It is for the want of a healthy infusion of religion into the politics of the country that corruption has become so widespread as to be a menace to the nation, and it is only by a return to its teachings that a genuine reform, worthy of the name, can be accomplished. The crying need of the times is for an awakened conscience in public affairs, and nothing will contribute to this so quickly and so surely as a recognition of God and his unchangeable laws, not less in politics than in private life.

The only way to secure an “awakened conscience in public affairs” is to arouse the conscience of the individual, and this is done, not by uniting religion with politics, but by bringing religion into the individual life. Purity of life can not be secured by act of Parliament; neither will an official recognition of God and his law by constitutional amendment or by public proclamation cleanse the soul temple from evil or transform the conduct of the politicians. The place for religion is in the heart; the fruit of it will then appear in a life in harmony with the law of God.