God Versus Party: Competing Effects on Attitudes Concerning Criminal Punishment, National Security, and Military Service. Issue 4 (14th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomson, Robert A.; Froese, Paul
• Is Part Of: Journal for the scientific study of religion. Volume 55:Issue 4(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 839
• Page End: 858
• Publication Date: 2017-02-14
• Subjects: religion -- political parties -- retributive justice -- moral authority -- national security -- image of God; Religion -- Periodicals; 200
• DOI: 10.1111/jssr.12293
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8294

Abstract

Abstract : We explore how images of God interact with political party to predict attitudes concerning the appropriate role of government in both criminal punishment and national security. Using the second wave of the Baylor Religion Survey (2007), we analyze the extent to which beliefs regarding God's moral judgment moderate the influence of party affiliation on opinions about the death penalty, fighting terrorism, punishing criminals, serving in the military, and U.S. involvement in the Iraq War. Specifically, we find that Democrats who believe in a judgmental God tend to support more conservative policies. In fact, attitudes converge such that the effects of party membership are erased if rival partisans both believe in a judgmental moral authority.