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Religion and Public Policy

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KEY PEOPLE
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Religion and culture inevitably affect our domestic and foreign public policies — but how, how much and with what result? How does religion affect our national voting patterns? What is the appropriate role for religion in politics? How can “faith-based” organizations assist in providing social services to the disadvantaged and disenfranchised? How is religious fundamentalism affecting the Middle East peace negotiations? These are but a few of the controversial questions that the Baker Institute Religion and Public Policy Program has attempted to answer. Building upon previous research, engaging myriad diverse views in rigorous and open debate, the program aims to explore how religion and cultural factors interact with public policy issues, including education, socioeconomics, politics, science, conflict resolution and globalization.

Topics of particular current interest and research are: 1) the appropriate relationship between religion and politics in the United States; 2) the ways in which knowledge of religious factors can aid in both domestic and foreign policy; 3) social and political views within evangelical Christianity that are moving beyond a limited focus on such wedge issues as abortion and homosexuality; and 4) increased opposition to Islamic extremism among moderate Muslim thinkers and movements.

PUBLICATIONS
2012
The role of religion in American politics
Jan 22 2012
William Martin
2011
Boko Haram: A Prognosis
Dec 16 2011
David Cook
Educating for a "Christian America"? Bible Courses, Social Studies Standards and the Texas Controversy (Transcript)
Mar 24 2011
Mark Chancey
Science on Faith
Feb 11 2011
Elaine Howard Ecklund
2010
Head of the Class
Aug 02 2010
William Martin
Lesson Learned
Aug 01 2010
William Martin
2009
Faith-Based Diplomacy: Bridging the Religious Divide
Oct 19 2009
Douglas M. Johnston
Can These Dry Bones Live?
Sep 30 2009
Richard Cizik
Creating needle-exchange programs would be the Christian thing to do
Apr 04 2009
William Martin
2006
Three Paths to Eden: Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Fundamentalisms
May 03 2006
William Martin
Secular State, Religious People -- The American Model
Apr 01 2006
William Martin
EVENTS