Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the history of the study of religion and politics—a history that is overshadowed by a long period of time when social scientists ignored religion as a significant political and social factor. It examines religious identity and theories which posit that some religious groups are different or behave differently than others. The book explains how religious beliefs influence political behaviour. Its central thesis is that religious worldviews, beliefs, doctrines, and theologies provide a lens through which people can understand the world around them as well as including explicit instructions on how to behave. The book looks at how religion is used to justify and legitimize political actions and policies. It focuses on government religion policy in practice. The book provides political secularism—the ideology that religion ought to be in some manner separated from some or all aspects of politics and government.