Newsweek editor talks religion
By Sally Nicely
The Daily Mississippian
May 1, 2007
OXFORD, Miss. - Newsweek editor and best-selling author, John Meacham, spoke on the complex and intimate relationship between religion and politics in the Yerby Auditorium Monday night.
Meacham's speech was part of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute's Public Affairs Forum.
In his speech, Meacham, an Episcopalian, addressed the influence of religion on American politics throughout history, citing quotes from many leaders that ranged from founding father George Washington to wise abolitionist Abraham Lincoln and to modern day leaders such as Pres. George W. Bush.
The quotes provided Meacham a theological backbone and historical substance to his explanation on religious influence in politics.
Meacham saw the importance of separating church and state but also saw that religion and politics are intertwining.
"You can separate church and state, and should, but you can't separate religion from politics," he said.
Meacham stressed the importance the founders of the United States put on religious liberty instead of religious tolerance; tolerance says there is a majority allowing a minority to believe something and that something can be taken away. According to Meacham, religious liberty allows people to worship as they wish.
"Religion is one force among many," he said. "That will be with us until the end of the age."
According to Meacham, religion and politics are about who people are but there stands two extreme views on the existing foundation of the United States.
The right side believes the United States is a Christian nation founded by Christian men. The left side thinks the United States is a secular country because God is not stated in the Constitution.
"What I call the American Gospel-the idea is the great good news about the country is that religion shapes us without strifling us," Meacham said.
Brandon Ramsey, an economic graduate student, commended Meacham for addressing religion and politics because it is a controversial topic but he thought at times he held back his actual thoughts.
"I think he sacrifices his true feelings on certain things just in the name of being objective," said Ramesy. "You can tell he really wants to tell his true opinion but can't because he is the editor of Newsweek."
Holly Hosford, freshman political science major who has read Meacham's "American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers and the Making of a Nation," said she enjoyed Meacham's speech and said his comments were identical to those he made in his book.
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