Browsing by Subject "Religion and politics"
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Item American civil religion : continuity and change(2009-12) Hanson, Darrin Mark; Budziszewski, J., 1952-American civil religion is a topic in which there is a lot of interest but very little current scholarly activity. This is primarily due to there currently being no common understanding of American civil religion, hindering progress in the field. The first purpose of the dissertation is to rectify this situation by creating a solid theoretical understanding of American civil religion from which scholarship can progress. The second purpose of the dissertation is to examine the development of the American civil religion through history. This includes an interesting dynamic given the civil religion's purpose of promoting a shared identity. The process of promoting a shared identity involves defining the social group in question. When 'outsiders' enter the community, conflict ensues. Typically, the conflict continues until the parameters of the civil religion is enlarged, incorporating the new group. This is a continuing cycle within the American civil religion. Looking at this broad framework, one will able to see both the continuity and change from the founding period to the current version of the American civil religion.Item Limits of European Islam: Turkish Islamic organizations' responses to host country policies in France and Germany(2014-05) Arkilic, Zekiye Ayca; Givens, Terri E., 1964-; Freeman, Gary P.Through an analysis of three key Turkish Islamic umbrella organizations operating in France and Germany, this paper discusses how Turkish Muslims practice, redefine, and respond to citizenship, integration, and church-state policies engineered by host states. Relying on a detailed examination of governmental and organizational publications, media reports, and semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with organization leaders as well as French and German policy-makers, this study draws attention to the gap between normative legal rights reserved for Muslims and their implementation in practice. While the existing literature provides mixed conclusions with respect to the accommodation of Muslim religious rights in France and Germany, I argue that the Turkish Islamic organizations are more critical of host state policies in Germany than in France. First, even though the constitutional setting demands a strict separation of state and religion in France, in reality, rules are relaxed in a way to provide benefits to Muslim groups. In contrast, while the constitution is more liberal in Germany, this flexibility has not led to accommodating policies in practice. Moreover, for Turkish Muslims in both France and Germany, the French Council for the Muslim Faith is regarded as a more legitimate and democratic institution. The German Islam Conference, on the other hand, is criticized for excluding important Islamic organizations, creating a distinction between “good Muslims” and “bad Muslims,” and placing more emphasis on security and terrorism in its working groups. Germany’s federal system, and its excessive state intervention in theology institutes and Islamic religious courses are other factors that shape how Turkish Muslims respond to, and interact with policy-makers in their host countries.Item Social theology and religiously affiliated nonprofits in migration policy(Texas Tech University, 1998-08) Hoover, Robert LaneIn this dissertation I present argument and evidence that social theologies do not neatly divide religious groups into two camps, especially along a one-dimensional "liberal-conservative" continuum. Instead, I offer evidence that social theology in large measure accounts for the political behavior of a wide variety of denominations that create and maintain nonprofit organizations to work in public policy areas. Social theology counts, but not in the ways usually depicted. I offer evidence that social theology is mediated through denominational organizations. The organizational context is a significant factor in the process. Elements of this context include: the executive directors, governing bodies, mission statements, denominational affiliations, funding sources, legal considerations, and denominational accountability structures.