Theocratic Leanings of GOP Voters

It's common to see criticisms of the Republican Party center around the accusation that they are trying to inject more theocratic policies and trends into the government. Republicans and conservatives object to this criticism, and it's true that such critiques might go too far, but what do the Republican voters want? Would they like to see a more theocratic government?

The Nation carries the results of a poll, and some of those results are very interesting.

To the question “Should a political leader rely on religion when making policy decisions? (Source: ABC/Washington Post poll, April 2005),” the percentage of those answering “Yes” were:

Conservatives 63
Republicans 62
National sample 40
Independents 38
Moderates 36
Democrats 27
Liberals 20

To the question “Should religious leaders try to influence politicians’ positions on the issues? (Source: ABC News/Washington Post poll, May 2004.) ,” the percentage of those answer “Yes” were:

White conservative evangelicals 62
White churchgoing evangelicals 53
Conservatives 49
Republicans 48
White evangelicals 46
Catholics 34
National sample 35
Independents 32
Moderates 29
Democrats 28
Nonevangelical Protestants 27
Seculars 22

To the question “Which worries you more, politicians inattentive to religion or politicians too close to religion and its leaders? (Source: CBS News/New York Times poll, Nov. 2004.),” the percentage of those answering “inattentive” were:

Republicans 53
National sample 35
Independents 29
Democrats 25

According to these surveys, Republicans and conservatives are overwhelmingly in favor of religious leaders having more authority and influence over civil government. In fact, the percentages of Republicans favoring greater religious authority imposed upon people is almost the reverse of liberals and Democrats who favor it. Favorable answers from Republicans and conservatives are much, much higher than the national averages, as well.

The next time someone objects to the idea that conservatives and Republicans favor more theocracy in America, point them to survey results published in The Nation.

 

Separation of Church & State:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Secularism 101
• What is the Separation of Church and State?
• Religion's Place in the Public Square
• Myths About Church/State Separation
• Church and State News
• Church & State Polls

 

Christian Nationalism & Dominion Theology:

• Dominionism & Dominion Theology
• Christian Reconstructionism
• Leading Christian Reconstructionists
• Reconstructionism & Christian Right: Common Goals, Beliefs

 

Christian Right Issues & Agenda:

• Religious Privilege
• Christian Privilege
• Christian Supremacy