Scholars argue religion and politics are inseparable in modern America

The boundary between religious belief and political action is blurring, according to two visiting academics who spoke at Eckerd College on Monday. The discussion challenged the common assumption that these two spheres operate independently. Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, a professor of political science and religious studies at Northwestern University, argued that the separation is a myth. She suggested that Americans treat national security as a sacred concept, placing it above legal scrutiny. Hurd cited research by Kathryn Lofton to explain that individuals often become ensnared by religious structures rather than simply joining them. She noted that national security functions similarly to politics and religion by compelling participation in forces larger than the individual. Hurd, author of "Heaven Has a Wall: Religion, Borders, and the Global United States," used this framework to analyze how borders serve as both political and religious objects.

Tazeen Ali, an assistant professor of religion and politics at Washington University in St. Louis, focused on the media construction of Islam. She is currently researching how television shapes perceptions of Muslim identity in Anglo American society. Ali referenced the recent Senate campaign in Michigan to illustrate this point. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate, responded to questions about the Muslim Brotherhood by stating, "I’m not running to be a Muslim senator. I’m running for U.S. Senate and happen to be Muslim." Ali said this reaction highlights the shifting position of Muslims in American public life. She urged the audience to consider how television narratives influence the growing visibility of religious identity in electoral politics. Her work, tentatively titled "Muslims on Screen: Racism and Sexuality in Anglo-American Islam," examines these intersections closely.

The panel was moderated by Robert Galloway, the Chaplain and Director of the Center for Spiritual Life at Eckerd. Students in the audience engaged with the concepts presented by the scholars. Lexi Davis, a junior religious studies major from Mountain View, California, said the talk prompted her to question her own definitions of religion. She began exploring potential hidden connections between faith and culture. Davis asked what insights might emerge if people could discern small elements of religion in everyday American culture. Jasmine Fernald, a junior anthropology major from New Carlisle, Indiana, focused on the integration of religion and government. She observed that while people often claim these institutions are separate, they remain deeply intertwined in practice.

The event was organized by McCrary, who aims to help students develop new frameworks for analyzing religious ideas in politics. He noted that religious concepts appear across the political spectrum, from Christian nationalists on the right to progressive candidates on the left. McCrary emphasized the need for people to actively look for these connections rather than missing them. He wants students to stop overlooking the religious underpinnings of political life. The panel concluded with a push for a more critical examination of how faith shapes public discourse and individual identity.