When Religion Shapes Policy
By Veronica Movchan
Christianity is increasingly invoked in political and educational debates—not just as a personal belief system but as a guiding force for laws and policies that affect millions, regardless of their faith or religious background. Laws restricting abortion, the incorporation of the Bible into public schools, and a growing disregard for the separation of church and state all signal the overwhelming influence of Christianity on American politics. The use of Christian values to shape public policy undermines secular governance, marginalizes non-Christian perspectives, and stifles social progress.
The push to introduce religious doctrine into public education has intensified in recent years, reflecting a broader trend of government-sanctioned religious influence. In Oklahoma, for example, the state board of education mandates that the Bible and its teachings be incorporated into the public school lessons for grades 5 through 12. This intrusion is exacerbated by the support of religious involvement with taxpayer money, such as Oklahoma allocating three million dollars to purchase 55,000 King James Bibles and Ohio’s allocation of nearly four million to renovate private religious schools. The use of public funds to provide religious materials for public education undermines the principle of secular instruction and raises significant concerns about the misuse of taxpayer dollars. Recent Supreme Court rulings further eroded the separation of church and state. In Carson v. Makin, the court ruled, “for the first time that a state must fund religious activity as part of an educational aid program.” One week later, ignoring well-established precedent, the court “ruled in favor of a Christian public-school football coach who prayed with his players.” These legal shifts directly contradict the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which, “protects against governmental endorsement and imposition of religion.” Public schools are designed to be inclusive spaces where all students—regardless of belief—can learn without religious pressure. When religion is embedded into school policies, it creates an exclusionary environment that alienates non-Christian students and forces religious doctrine into a system meant to serve everyone. The growing entanglement of religion and public education threatens government neutrality and the rights of students from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds.
But religion isn’t just affecting education; religious influence on politics is also concerningly evident in the fight over reproductive rights. Much of the argument against abortion is rooted in a specific Christian perspective, imposing religious beliefs on others in an inherently unconstitutional way. Justice Sonia Sotomayor highlighted this issue during Dobbs v. Jackson, questioning whether the government should have the power to enforce religious doctrine. The anti-abortion movement has stigmatized discussions about both religion and abortion. This rhetoric has been weaponized to push restrictive policies that do not reflect the beliefs of all Americans, reducing the debate to a battle of religious absolutism versus personal freedom rather than a legal and healthcare issue.
The intersections of religion and politics have led to shifting moral standards, where political allegiance often overrides ethical principles. This is particularly evident in how religious voters have reassessed their views on personal morality in politicians. David E. Campbell, a noted author and professor of American Democracy, states, “Many people respond to this question according to their party affiliation, not out of principle” . Previously, religious conservatives largely rejected leaders who engaged in immoral behavior, but in recent years, that stance has softened when such leaders align with their political interests. This selective application of moral values weakens the credibility of religious institutions and distorts public discourse, prioritizing partisanship over ethical consistency. When morality becomes a political tool rather than a guiding principle, it leads to less informed decision-making and stifles meaningful political and social progress.
The growing division between religious and secular Americans, alongside strong political polarization, threatens to weaken religious tolerance. Instead of uniting communities, the fusion of religion and politics fuels ideological extremes, making it harder for people with differing beliefs to find common ground. Additionally, this politicization of faith is silencing religion’s ability to serve as an independent moral voice. As stated in “The Perils of Politicized Religion,” “the more religion is wrapped up in partisan politics, the more it loses its prophetic potential... prophetic voices are needed now more than ever.” Instead of challenging power and speaking on issues of justice from an ethical standpoint, many religious leaders have become aligned with political factions, limiting their ability to call out wrongdoing on both sides. With such a one-sided approach to morality, it can ultimately lead to a circular reference of involuntary agreement with like-minded thinking, as well as disagreement with alternative views, at the expense of genuine conversation.
Recognizing this pattern and its effects, politicians must stop using religion as a crutch for policymaking, and voters should hold them accountable for doing so. A government that represents people of all faiths—and those with none—can not function if laws are justified by religious belief. Arguments based solely on faith do not resonate with those who do not share that faith, and instead of fostering discussion, they only deepen ideological divides. If religion is to play a meaningful role in public life, it must do so without dictating policy. A renewed commitment to secular governance—one that respects religious freedom without allowing it to dominate public decision-making—is the only way to maintain both democracy and genuine religious integrity.