Enlightening Exchange: AU’s Lynn Joins UVA Debate On Religion And Government

Should religion have a place in American politics and government?

That’s the question a scholar, two activists and a pastor came together to discuss last night at a debate in Richmond, Va. The event was hosted by the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs.

One of those well-known activists was Americans United Executive Director, the Rev. Barry Lynn. He was joined by biblical scholar Jacques Berlinerblau of Georgetown University, arguing for a complete separation of religion and government.

The question was a little too black-and-white, so Lynn made it clear from the outset that government sans religion does not mean government sans values. Values mean many things to many people and are often derived from religious belief; that, he said, is where religion’s influence on secular governance must end.

Arguing for the union of religion and government were Charles Colson of Prison Fellowship and Bishop Harry Jackson, a Maryland pastor. Colson and Jackson seemed off track much of the time.

Colson spoke of the injustice he saw while serving time in prison after the Watergate scandal and how his newfound Christian faith led him to work against it. “God should inform us in all of our lives about what is right and just and decent,” he said.

“This is not a question about who is more in favor of justice,” Lynn replied. He noted that one can be moved to fight for justice for many reasons and that some of those reasons may be derived from religion.

“[B]ut the assertions that you seem to be making is that somehow, unless we really gird ourselves with a religious world view, we cannot make decisions about justice. I think that’s wrong,” Lynn concluded.

Public policy cannot be based on religion alone, said Lynn. Yes, there is a place for religion in the marketplace of ideas, but its reach ends where governance begins.

Berlinerblau, Lynn’s debate partner, illustrated this beautifully in an exchange with Jackson.

“Why should a Muslim American, why should a Jewish – let me make it even more difficult – why should a Catholic American – and Catholics don’t live by scripture alone…as do Protestants… why should a Catholic American live by an evangelical interpretation of scripture?” Berlinerblau asked.

Jackson deflected the question, saying that conservative Christians only wanted an “opportunity to present to our people the things we believe.” Americans who believe in the Bible’s absolute authority and power to transform lives, he said, just want to let “others in the nation choose.”

Everyone has a right to voice their opinions, but “I don’t want a theocracy, even if it’s by a democratic vote,” Lynn said.

Berlinerblau agreed, saying that a Christian establishment imposed through the democratic process “will not only alienate religious minorities, non-Christian religious minorities, but most Christians, as well.”

Closing for the affirmative side, Berlinerblau appealed to all sides for increased civil discourse. He had said in his opening remarks that “American secularism” – distance between religion and government, that is – “is facing nothing short of a…crisis.” He said we need to engage our fellow citizens by sharing our views and listening to theirs. No one is saying we have to agree, Berlinerblau added, but it’s high time we start talking, not at, but with each other.

As Rev. Lynn said last night, “We’re all in this together.”

I hope you take the time to watch the video or read the transcript, which are available on the Miller Center Web site. The debate will also air on PBS stations nationwide later this month. Check your local listings.

By Lauren Smith