Christianity, Democracy, and the American Ideal is a 2004 book written by Jaques Martain and compiled and edited by James P. Kelly. The book makes a contrarian argument. Good Christians make good citizens and should bring their values to the ballot box. Good Christians live by Gospel values of honesty, integrity, and compassion. Good Christians obey the law, argues Martain in this book. No wonder, says the book, that America originated from a Christian people and has served so well and lasted so long. Do you think American democracy is unique?
Summary of Christianity, Democracy, and the American Ideal
Christianity, Democracy, and the American Ideal show that in a society without religious ideals, enduring institutions can never take root. And once religious people abandon their faith, even the greatest democracy should wither and die. Not tied to transcendent values, democracy becomes just a struggle between the most powerful and the ruthless.
The hour is late. It gets late early, so it is late now. Too long has a false understanding of democracy cowed us into laying aside our Christian values when we vote. As the book demonstrates Christians are necessary for democracy. The fundamental argument of Christianity, Democracy, and the American Ideal, Christians make good citizens, and good citizens make strong democracies. If America and her ideals are to endure, says the book, Christians and their values must be a central part of the public discourse.
This book is easy to read and well-written, with a large font. It has thirteen chapters. First, democracy of the person, second, the limits of social planning. Third, Christianity and the common good, Fourth, Courage and Democracy. Fifth, The role of the state in Education. Sixth, faith-based initiatives. Seventh, Freedom of association. Eighth, freedom of thought and religion Nineth, contemplation and prayer. Tenth, social solidarity and democracy. Eleventh, the American experience; Twelfth, Truth and fellowship. Thirteenth, and finally, Christian and Democratic evolution.
Religiosity in America
Despite the centrality of Christianity in the American political process, Religiosity in America has decreased sharply since the 1070s. Also, Americans who attend church regularly are more likely to be conservative and vote for the Republican Party. Agnostic people who do not attend church are more likely to be liberal and to vote for the Democratic Party. The percentage of people in the United States who are church-going and people who define themselves as Christian has plummeted since 1972.
Meanwhile the percentage of people in the United States who identify themselves as unaffiliated has increased dramatically in that time. A casual survey of any Roman Catholic congregation reveals that it is aging. This trend of decreasing Religiosity in the United States strongly benefits the Democratic Party, may be undermining American democracy, if we believe the argument of this book. The trend is from the Pew Research Center.
Catholics can consider it funny that they are encouraged to vote but not encouraged to vote for a particular political party. Because they are conservative, it is obvious they will vote for the Republican Party. The Bishops around the United States publish letters to the populace encouraging them to vote.
Conclusion
Christianity, Democracy, and the American Ideal is a good book that presents an argument that will be a little foreign to Catholics. Catholics are used to an apolitical message from the pulpit. Yet, they are encouraged to do their Christian duty and vote. So maybe the augment of the book is not that strange after all. It is the case that those with conservative values are more likely to vote for the Republican Party. So, this book argues powerfully for people who go to church to vote and participate in all sorts of political processes. It should be an argument well-received in pews across America.
