Religion and Public Life: Comments on the Williamsburg Charter Survey

Abstract

Religion in public life is a significant issue at this moment in our history for at least three reasons. First, we are celebrating the bicentennial of our Constitution, with its commitment to removing religious tests for federal public offices, and we are looking forward to the bicentennial of the Bill of Rights, which enshrines religious freedom at the head of the liberties secured in the First Amendment. Second, we are the beneficiaries of a rich literature written in the past decade exploring the phenomenon of religion in American politics. Third, 1988 was a presidential election year in which two of the candidates seeking the nominations of their respective parties have served as ministers, and in which many of the other candidates have had occasion to explore in public debate the ramifications of their deeply held beliefs for a wide range of public policy choices, both foreign and domestic. Several other reasons could be offered in support of the view that the role of religion in public life is worthy of full and rigorous exploration in this election year. Nevertheless, this theme is likely to remain an iceberg issue submerged from public view yet moving along inexorably. More's the pity. For, as the Williamsburg Charter Survey demonstrates, beneath the tip of the iceberg is widespread misinformation and confusion about religion and public policy. For example, the survey discloses that only one-third of the respondents were even aware that religious freedom is secured in the First Amendment, although 71% were aware that this freedom is protected somewhere in the Federal Constitution. When asked what pops into their mind when they hear the words “the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” only 4% think of religious freedom.