본 연구는 현대사회의 정치와 종교의 관계, 특히 종교의 정치 참여에 대하여 논의를 전개한다. 세속화이론의 지배 논리인 종교의 분화와 사유화이론이 종교의 사회적 위치를 사적 영역에 한정하고 개인의 영혼구원 제한하는 것과 달리 종교가 다시금 공적 영역으로 등장한다는 공적 재등장의 테제에 초점을 맞추면서 바람직한 종교의 정치참여에 대한 사회학적 응답을 시도한다. 이를 위해 세속화이론을 중심으로 변화된 종교의 사회적 위치가 다시금 종교의 내적 변화에 어떠한 영향을 미쳤는가를 논하고 근대사회의 사회계약적 틀이 제시하는 공적 담론의 장인 시민사회 안에서의 종교의 사회정치적 기능과 역할에 대하여 논의를 전개한다. 그리고 미국의 기독교 근본주의의 역사적 변천과정을 정치와의 관계에 대하여 비판적으로 논하면서 바람직한 정치활동 모델을 모색하고자 한다. 미국의 근본주의는 다원주의 사회의 결집, 모순된 관점의 공존, 타 문화와 종교에 대한 관용, 타인에 대한 도덕성 부과 금지를 강조하는 시민사회의 담론의 장에의 참여를 거부하는 모습을 보여주었다. 역사적으로는 모더니즘에 대한 격렬한 저항, 정치우익과의 동맹을 통한 정치세력화, 국제사회에서의 미국 패권주의의 정당화, 그리고 신자유주의와의 이데올로기적 결합을 보여주기도 하였다. 결론적으로 내적 운영원리와 그 지향의 근본적 차이로 인해 종교와 정치의 결합은 보편적이고 절대적인 종교를 타협적이고 상대적 가치로 전락시키고 타협을 미덕으로 여기는 정치를 절대화하는 오류에 빠지게 한다는 것이다. 따라서 바람직한 종교의 정치참여는 시민사회의 담론의 장안에만이 바람직하고 정치권력과의 동맹이나 결합은 위험하다고 할 수 있다.

This study aim to discuss on the relationship of religion and politics, especially on the participation of religions in politics. Different from differentiation and privatization theses, two dominant theories of the secularization theory that limit the social location of religions to private sphere, this article tries to answer on the question of the desirable participation of religion in politics mostly within the thesis of the resurgence of religions in public sphere in the modern society. For this, we discuss first on the influence of the changed social locations of religion on the internal change of religious contents and practices. Second, discussion is made on the socio-political function and roles of religions within the boundary of civil society, a public sphere of discourse. Next, we seek a desirable model of religion's political activity after the critical discussion on the relationship of American Protestant fundamentalism with politics and its historical development. American fundamentalism has shown its rejection to participate in civil society in which pluralism in culture and religion, co-existence of different and contradictory views, and tolerance to other culture and religions are permitted and various moral norms are allowed. Rather, it has shown historically a strong resistance to modernism, a formation of socio-political power by way of allying with political right movement, a legitimation on the political supremacy of United States in the world, and an ideological union with the economic power of Neo-liberalism. In conclusion, the alliance of religion and politics, both of which have different logics of thought and action with opposite inner aims, reveals nothing but a danger that makes the religion with universal and absolute values fall into a relative and compromising value. Meanwhile, politics that regards compromise as a virtue can be fallen into an absolute value. Thus, a desirable participation of religions in politics must be within the civil society, while the alliance or union of religion and politics is very dangerous not only to politics but also to religion.

This study aim to discuss on the relationship of religion and politics, especially on the participation of religions in politics. Different from differentiation and privatization theses, two dominant theories of the secularization theory that limit the social location of religions to private sphere, this article tries to answer on the question of the desirable participation of religion in politics mostly within the thesis of the resurgence of religions in public sphere in the modern society. For this, we discuss first on the influence of the changed social locations of religion on the internal change of religious contents and practices. Second, discussion is made on the socio-political function and roles of religions within the boundary of civil society, a public sphere of discourse. Next, we seek a desirable model of religion's political activity after the critical discussion on the relationship of American Protestant fundamentalism with politics and its historical development. American fundamentalism has shown its rejection to participate in civil society in which pluralism in culture and religion, co-existence of different and contradictory views, and tolerance to other culture and religions are permitted and various moral norms are allowed. Rather, it has shown historically a strong resistance to modernism, a formation of socio-political power by way of allying with political right movement, a legitimation on the political supremacy of United States in the world, and an ideological union with the economic power of Neo-liberalism. In conclusion, the alliance of religion and politics, both of which have different logics of thought and action with opposite inner aims, reveals nothing but a danger that makes the religion with universal and absolute values fall into a relative and compromising value. Meanwhile, politics that regards compromise as a virtue can be fallen into an absolute value. Thus, a desirable participation of religions in politics must be within the civil society, while the alliance or union of religion and politics is very dangerous not only to politics but also to religion.

Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Religion and Politics, Secularization Theory, Differentiation and Privatization of Religion