By Sarah Carrillo
Staff Writer
“I believe that religion is making a strong comeback in American public life.”
Those were the words of Dr. Luis Lugo Monday as he spoke as part of the Dean’s Lecture Series.
Lugo’s speech, titled “The Diminishing Divide: Religion’s Growing Role in American Public Life,” focused on the importance of religion in American politics.
Lugo, director of the Religion and Public Life section of the Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia, quoted one of his colleagues from Princeton as saying, “. . . religion remains one of the most understudied phenomenon of our time.”
Lugo believes that while religion has always been influential in American politics, it has become more prominent in recent times. He cited the civil rights movement, the feminist movement and the anti-war movement, which were all “religiously infused.”
Lugo also regarded the 2000 presidential election as a “watershed moment of reintroduction of religion into public life.” He cited the religious emphasis that candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore placed in their speeches and their platforms. Lugo quoted Gore saying, “. . . we need to ensure that believers of all faiths can engage in conversation (freely) . . . .”
He also noted the contrast between John F. Kennedy’s campaign speeches, which de-emphasized his Catholic faith, and Joseph Lieberman’s speeches, which focused on bringing his religion into public policy.
“There is a great public concern (about religion) . . . the American public is very ambivalent of religion’s role (in politics),” Lugo said. “The real underlying concern (is) that a greater role of religion might undermine tolerance for people with minority religious beliefs.”
Lugo believes that Americans recognize the need for religion in politics, but are unsure about the specific role it should play in the government. Voters are concerned about the “moral deterioration” of the country, he said, but they see religion as a critical but potentially dangerous public force.
“Religion has the potential to re-energize democracy,” Lugo said. “People of faith need to think long and hard of their own responsibilities.”
Lugo believes that the key is not to remove religion from public policy but to embrace it and make a commitment to moral absolutes.
“The challenge is not to leave religion behind, the challenge is to delve deeper and find resources (in faith),” Lugo said.
Despite a slightly meager audience in Smothers Theater, Lugo’s speech seemed to be well received by the crowd. Several students posed questions afterwards.
“It raised a question in my mind of how religion plays a role in politics,” freshman Kenley Nguyen said.
March 21, 2002