Is religion just another form of politics? Both religion and politics involve core dogmas, ideologies, and worldviews that their followers hold with ardour and faith. Adherents often believe their perspective is the only truth and may seek to spread it or apply it universally.
Religions provide a moral code and a sense of virtue and vice that often inform a person's entire view of the world. When individuals, including politicians, act on these deeply held beliefs, their faith inevitably impinges on public policy and law. Many historical and contemporary examples show religion as the very basis of political ideology and a powerful source of moral vision for social movements, such as the civil rights movement.
Both create strong community ties and a sense of belonging. In some cases, faith can be turned into a tribal identity, where belonging to one group often means defining oneself in opposition to others, mirroring partisan political divisions. Critics argue that religion has historically been used as a political tool for social control and maintaining the status quo, for example, by promising rewards in the afterlife rather than encouraging political action to improve conditions in this life. When intertwined, religious institutions can become a power in their own right with worldly, not just spiritual, concerns. Both systems often feature strong figureheads or authorities whom followers are expected to trust and obey.
