the issues: religion in politics
In American politics, the relationship between religion and governance is a longstanding and deeply significant issue. The principle of the separation of church and state, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, dictates that the government should not endorse any particular religion. However, the personal faith of political leaders often becomes a focal point in elections, as voters are interested in how a candidate's religious beliefs might influence their policies and leadership. In the 2024 presidential election, candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump each have unique relationships with religion, both in their personal lives and in their political careers. This essay will examine their approaches to religion, the role of faith in their political platforms, and whether either candidate regularly attends religious services.
Kamala Harris: Personal Faith and Political Approach
Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president in 2024, has a diverse religious background that reflects her multicultural heritage. Harris was raised in a family that practiced both Hinduism and Christianity. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a Hindu immigrant from India, and her father, Donald Harris, is of Jamaican descent. Harris has spoken openly about her upbringing, noting that while she was exposed to Hindu traditions through her mother, she primarily identifies with Christianity.
Religious Identity and Practices: Harris identifies as a Baptist and is affiliated with the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, a historically Black Baptist congregation. While Harris does not frequently discuss her personal religious practices in detail, she has attended services at the church on several occasions and has expressed how her faith has shaped her values, particularly her commitment to social justice and equality. Despite her Christian identity, Harris has also acknowledged the influence of her mother’s Hindu faith, especially in terms of her respect for religious diversity and interfaith dialogue.
Separation of Church and State: Harris is a strong advocate for the separation of church and state, a principle that is foundational to her political philosophy. She has consistently supported policies that uphold religious freedom while preventing the imposition of religious beliefs on public policy. For instance, she has voiced her opposition to religious exemptions that allow employers to deny health care coverage for contraceptives, as seen in cases like *Burwell v. Hobby Lobby*.
On the broader topic of religious freedom, Harris has supported policies that protect the rights of all Americans to practice their faith without government interference. However, she has also made it clear that she believes in a secular government that does not promote any particular religion. For example, during her time as California’s attorney general and U.S. senator, she has supported LGBTQ+ rights, including same-sex marriage, and has opposed efforts to allow religious beliefs to justify discrimination.
Public Perception of Faith: Harris's religious views and practices have not been a central issue in her political career, and she has rarely made overt appeals to religion in her campaigns. She generally frames her policy positions in terms of equality, justice, and fairness, values she attributes to her upbringing and faith. While she identifies as a Christian, she does not frequently attend services in a public capacity, and her religious identity is less prominent compared to other political figures who more regularly invoke their faith in public discourse.
Attendance of Services: Harris’s attendance at religious services has not been a major aspect of her public life. While she has occasionally been seen attending church, especially during significant moments such as holidays or events tied to the Black community’s religious traditions, she does not regularly attend services as part of her political persona. Her approach to religion in public life is more reserved, emphasizing the importance of religious pluralism and the separation of church and state rather than frequent displays of personal religious devotion.
Donald Trump: Religion and Political Strategy
Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president in 2024, has had a complicated relationship with religion throughout his political career. While Trump was not particularly vocal about his religious beliefs before entering politics, he began to embrace the language of Christianity during his 2016 presidential campaign. His appeal to evangelical Christians and conservative religious voters became a significant aspect of his electoral strategy.
Religious Identity: Trump identifies as a Presbyterian, a mainline Protestant denomination. He was raised in the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, which was associated with the Reformed Church in America. The church’s former pastor, Norman Vincent Peale, who was famous for his teachings on the power of positive thinking, had a significant influence on Trump during his upbringing. However, Trump’s personal engagement with religious practices, such as attending church regularly, has been inconsistent.
Use of Religion in Politics: During his presidency and campaigns, Trump has actively courted religious conservatives, particularly evangelical Christians. He often highlighted his commitment to religious freedom and conservative social values, promising to protect Christianity from what he described as an increasingly secular and hostile culture. For instance, Trump’s administration championed issues such as religious liberty protections, opposition to abortion, and the appointment of conservative judges to the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court. His nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic, to the Supreme Court was seen as a key moment in his appeal to religious conservatives.
Trump has also made symbolic gestures to align himself with Christian voters. Notably, during the protests following George Floyd’s death in 2020, Trump posed in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., holding a Bible. This photo op was widely interpreted as a move to signal his allegiance to Christian voters, although it was criticized by religious leaders for its perceived cynicism and lack of authenticity, specifically because he was holding the Bible upside down.
Religious Rhetoric: Throughout his political career, Trump has used religious rhetoric to appeal to his base, often referring to the importance of God in American life and expressing support for "Judeo-Christian values." However, Trump’s personal knowledge of and engagement with religious teachings have been questioned by critics, who argue that his use of religion is primarily political. For example, during the 2016 campaign, Trump was asked to name a favorite Bible verse and struggled to provide an answer, leading to questions about the depth of his religious convictions.
Attendance of Services: Despite his identification as a Presbyterian, Trump has rarely been seen attending church services regularly. While he has attended notable religious events, such as the annual National Prayer Breakfast and services on special occasions, church attendance has not been a consistent part of his public persona. In interviews, Trump has mentioned that he attends services on holidays like Christmas and Easter, but there is little evidence to suggest that he regularly attends weekly services.
Key Differences Between Harris and Trump on Religion
Personal Faith and Identity:
Kamala Harris: Harris identifies as a Christian and has attended services at the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco. Her religious identity is more private, and she does not frequently invoke religion in her political rhetoric. She values religious diversity and pluralism, which reflects her multicultural background and belief in the separation of church and state.
Donald Trump: Trump identifies as a Presbyterian but does not regularly attend church. He has made strategic use of religious rhetoric, particularly to appeal to evangelical Christians and conservative religious voters. His public displays of faith are more symbolic and politically motivated than personally devout.
Role of Religion in Governance:
Kamala Harris: Harris is a staunch defender of the separation of church and state, advocating for policies that protect religious freedom while ensuring that religious beliefs do not infringe on civil rights. She supports a secular approach to governance and has been critical of religious exemptions that undermine healthcare access or equal rights.
Donald Trump: Trump has used religion as a key part of his political strategy, particularly in appealing to Christian conservatives. He has promoted religious liberty protections, especially for businesses and individuals opposed to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights on religious grounds. His administration also emphasized the importance of Judeo-Christian values in American society.
Public Displays of Faith:
Kamala Harris: Harris rarely makes public displays of faith or attends religious services in a highly visible way. Her approach to religion is more personal, and she focuses on policy rather than religious rhetoric.
Donald Trump: Trump has made several high-profile displays of faith, such as his Bible photo op in 2020, but he does not regularly attend religious services. His religious identity is often seen as politically motivated rather than deeply personal.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have starkly different relationships with religion, both in their personal lives and in their political strategies. Harris approaches religion with a focus on pluralism, the separation of church and state, and personal faith, while Trump uses religious rhetoric and symbolism to court religious conservative voters, particularly evangelical Christians. Neither candidate regularly attends religious services, though they both publicly identify with Christian denominations. Ultimately, their approaches to religion reflect broader differences in their political philosophies, with Harris emphasizing secular governance and diversity, and Trump aligning himself with conservative religious values.