ABSTRACT
In discussing the currently important issue of religion and politics, we begin with the philosopher Henri Bergson’s view that religion has two social roles: the static, helping to maintain the structures and traditions of the society; and the dynamic, offering challenged to existing structures and leading forces for change. Both roles clearly have important jobs to do. We will discuss them in light of the temple and prophets in ancient Israel, the “social gospel” and the controversy it engendered, and civil rights movements. We finally examine the role of political myth and symbol, drawing on our knowledge of religious myth and symbol, considering how myth can affect the political choices people make and the roles that political leaders play.
