Intersection of Politics and Religion in USA

Tokyo paper takes a look at a USA where politics and religion intersect and compares it to the vastly different scenario unfolding in Japan with its LDP-supported anti-religious measures 

Tokyo, 10th December 2024 – Published as the 47th article in a series in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article

Series: Freedom of Religion Under Threat – Part 7: Religion in Japan in a Global Context

Politics and Religion in America

The Background of Trump’s Overwhelming Support

by the Religious Freedom Investigative Team of the editorial department of Sekai Nippo

See part 1 of the series: The Kishida Administration’s Reckless Actions: 1st article, 2nd article, 3rd article, 4th article, 5th article, 6th article

See part 2: Ripples to Local Assemblies: 7th article, 8th article, 9th article, 10th article, 11th article, 12th article, 13th article, 14th article, 15th article

See part 3: Believers Suffering Discrimination and Human Rights Violations: 16th article, 17th article, 18th article, 19th article, 20th article, 21st article, 22nd article

See part 4: Media Crossing the Line: 23rd article, 24th article, 25th article, 26th article, 27th article, 28th article 

See part 5: The Distorted Image of the “Second-Generation”: 29th article, 30th article, 31st article, 32nd article, 33rd article, 34th article, 35th article, 36th article, 37th article, 38th article

See part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders: 39th article, 40th article, 41st article, 42nd article, 43rd article, 44th article, 45th article, 46th article,

See part 7: Religion in Japan in a Global Context: 48th article, 49th article, 50th article, 51st article, 52nd article, 53rd article, 54th article, 55th article

See Epilogue: 56th article, 57th article, 58th article

In late October 2024, just days before the U.S. presidential election, a gathering in the Atlanta suburbs of the key battleground state of Georgia attracted over 1,000 Christian pastors supporting Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump.

During a discussion with Pastor Paula White, Trump’s “spiritual advisor”, he addressed the assembled pastors, calling them “the most important people” and declaring:

“This will connect you directly with the Oval Office – directly with me.”

During his first term, Trump established a “Faith Office” at the White House as a liaison with religious leaders. He promised to reinstate this office to provide direct access to the president.

At the end of the gathering, over ten pastors surrounded Trump on stage to pray. Among them, Pastor Jack Graham, leader of a megachurch in Texas, prayed:

“We thank you for raising up Trump as a warrior for Your word and wisdom. As You make him our president once again, we pray You grant him strength, wisdom, and joy.”

What if this happened in Japan?

If similar interactions between politicians and religious leaders were observed in Japan, it would undoubtedly provoke fierce criticism as a “collusive relationship”. While leftist forces in the U.S. do criticize the significant influence of Christian conservatives on American politics, there is almost no widespread discourse labeling close ties between politicians and religious organizations as inherently inappropriate.

Trump’s close relationship with Christianity is evidenced by countless examples. For instance, he categorically rejected transgender ideology from a religious perspective, asserting,

“God created two genders, male and female.”

His bold stance against extreme LGBT policies, undeterred by leftist backlash, helped him gain broader support among Christians.

Trump’s choice for running mate and religious appeals

Senator J.D. Vance, whom Trump selected as his running mate, is a devout Catholic. During an October campaign rally, when someone in the crowd shouted, “Jesus is King,” Vance responded, “That’s right. Jesus is King,” earning thunderous applause. His comment was also a jab at Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, who, days earlier, had dismissed a Christian student declaring, “Jesus is Lord,” by saying, “You’re at the wrong rally.”

According to an NBC News exit poll from the presidential election, 82% of conservative white evangelical Christians, who made up 23% of voters, cast their ballots for Trump. Additionally, 63% of Catholic voters supported him. There’s no doubt that consolidating Christian support was a major factor in Trump’s overwhelming success.

Harris’ reliance on the “religious vote”

Harris, too, sought to harness the “religious vote”. She actively visited Black churches, which have historically been a cornerstone of Democratic electoral support, especially within the devoutly Christian black community.

In late October, Harris attended a worship service at a black church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. She shared her childhood experiences of attending church and emphasized how those experiences helped her “fully understand the teachings of the Bible and the power of faith.” Naturally, no one derided her actions as “too close” to religion.

Contrasting Japan’s religious and political landscape

In contrast, Japan’s reaction to the intersection of religion and politics is starkly different. Following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, public attention turned to the ties between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church). This led to widespread condemnation, and the LDP announced a complete severance of ties with the organization. The backlash created a social climate in which any religious involvement in politics seemed taboo, as though religion must have no place in political matters whatsoever.

This perspective is far removed from the norms in the United States.

Featured image above: President Donald J. Trump joins members of his Cabinet in a prayer led by Secretary of Energy Rick Perry during a Cabinet Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. Public domain image

See part 1 of the series: The Kishida Administration’s Reckless Actions: 1st article, 2nd article, 3rd article, 4th article, 5th article, 6th article

See part 2: Ripples to Local Assemblies: 7th article, 8th article, 9th article, 10th article, 11th article, 12th article, 13th article, 14th article, 15th article

See part 3: Believers Suffering Discrimination and Human Rights Violations: 16th article, 17th article, 18th article, 19th article, 20th article, 21st article, 22nd article

See part 4: Media Crossing the Line: 23rd article, 24th article, 25th article, 26th article, 27th article, 28th article 

See part 5: The Distorted Image of the “Second-Generation”: 29th article, 30th article, 31st article, 32nd article, 33rd article, 34th article, 35th article, 36th article, 37th article, 38th article

See part 6: Voices of Religious Leaders: 39th article, 40th article, 41st article, 42nd article, 43rd article, 44th article, 45th article, 46th article

See part 7: Religion in Japan in a Global Context: 48th article, 49th article, 50th article, 51st article, 52nd article, 53rd article, 54th article, 55th article

See Epilogue: 56th article, 57th article, 58th article

Related to politics and religion: Japan: Exhibition Exposes Horrors of Persecution

More, related to politics and religion: Japan Copying Faith-Breaking Concepts of China

Related to politics and religion: Courts Using Debunked Concepts Against Minority

Also related to politics and religion: Dissolution Case: Wild Claims, Illegal Actions

Also related to politics and religion: Terms from Consumer Law Used to Rob Faith

Also related to politics and religion: 2nd-Generation Members Protesting Persecution

Also related to politics and religion: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And also related to politics and religion: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

More, related to politics and religion: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

And more, related to politics and religion: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to politics and religion: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

Even more related to politics and religion: Two European Scholars Warning Japan

And yet more related to politics and religion: Japan Censured at Religious Freedom Event

And still more related to politics and religion: Lawyer Exposes Dirty Leftwing Plot

And even more related to politics and religion: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And still more related to politics and religion: Malicious One-Sided Government Source Selection

More related to politics and religion: Government’s Foul Play Pointed Out

More related to politics and religion: Kishida Has Opened Can of Worms