Religion and Politics: How Latter-Day Saints Justify Incongruent Positions

• In Event: New Political Science & Religion and Politics Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: Religion and Politics Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

In the US, religion and politics are intimately interrelated. But these forces do not always move in tandem. Previous literature has suggested that in cases where these two forces are “unreconcilable” people tend to let their political or partisan leanings alter their religious views, behaviors, and identities (Djupe & Calfano: 2014, Margolis: 2018, Miles 2019). While this is true, many “unreconcilable” incongruities are in fact successfully reconciled by believers without diminishing the importance of either their political or religious identities. What strategies do believers use to make these reconciliations, and what factors make these types of reconciliations most likely? In order to explore these questions 104 long form interviews with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in which respondents were directly confronted with Church materials that conflict with their political beliefs. Respondents are then asked whether or not they believe that Church members’ political beliefs should be in line with the Church’s statement. If respondents disagree, they are asked how they reconcile the statement and their belief that it should not lead to a specific political preference among members of the Church. This analysis will shed light on the interaction between these two identities, as well as how believers navigate ideological and theological incongruity in a world where these two identities are increasing becoming linked.

Author

• Kyle McWagner, University of California Irvine