Zeluosielie Kehie
Sovima Village, Chümoukedima
Religion and Politics remain sensitive topic and the relationship between church and politics is undeniably complex. The Constitution of India guarantees freedom of religion and upholds the principle of secularism, separates religion from state affairs, ensuring that the State does not identify itself with or be governed by any particular religion. Articles 25–28 of the Constitution guarantee individuals the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate their faith. At the same time, religious institutions often play significant roles in social welfare, moral guidance, and community development that naturally intersect with political life. This creates a dynamic relationship that must be handled with wisdom and responsibility.
Key aspects of the Church-Politics Relationship:
• Constitutional Framework: India’s secular framework ensures that all religions are treated equally before the law, protecting both religious freedom and democratic governance.
• Religious Influence on Politics: Political parties often appeal to religious groups/communities, promising to safeguard or protect their interests and incorporating religious values into their platforms/manifestos.
• Communal Tensions: The politicization of religion has led to communal tensions, discrimination against another groups, and violence.
Religion and Politics are fundamentally distinct in nature, purpose and function. Religion is rooted in faith, spiritual belief and guidance, moral values and teachings, ethics, and shaping the inner conscience of individuals and communities, guiding human conduct through principles of compassion, truth, forgiveness, and service. Politics, on the other hand, deals with governance, power, leadership, public administration, and law/decision-making for societal order and development. It functions within institutional frameworks to manage society and ensure justice, equity, and progress. While both profoundly influence human life, they are not the same and should neither be confused nor merged indiscriminately.
Religion and Politics are different, yet parallel forces in society. They run alongside each other, often intersecting at social, religious, cultural, and ethical crossroads. When each respects its own space while upholding shared human values, they can positively influence society. Religion can inspire moral responsibility compassion and ethical conduct, while politics create systems and laws that uphold justice equality and social order. However, problems arise when one is misused to dominate or manipulate the other. The challenge is not their coexistence, but the human tendency to misuse them for personal ambition or narrow interests. Religion and politics should not compete for dominance/power over one another; rather they should coexist, and walk side by side with integrity to serve for the welfare and well-being of society.
It is not religion that inherently corrupts politics, nor politics that automatically defiles religion. Rather, it is people-driven by personal ambition, intolerance, or misuse of power, who introduce or bring bad politics into sacred spaces and drag religion into political conflicts, thereby soiling its purity. When religion is exploited for political gain, it loses its moral credibility and spiritual authority. When politics is driven by religious prejudice, it undermines democracy, unity, and social harmony. Faith becomes politicized, and politics becomes divisive-damaging trust and disrupt social cohesion. Religion, when practiced sincerely, promotes peace, honesty, forgiveness, and service. Politics, when conducted responsibly, strives to ensure justice, development, and inclusive governance and growth. Problems arise when power, personal ambition, or narrow interests override ethical principles.
The solution to the complex relationship between religion and politics does not lie in total separation or forced merging, but in responsible coexistence.
1. Ethical Politics: Politics should be guided by universal moral values such as honesty, integrity, justice, accountability, and service-values that religion upholds, though it should not directly or indirectly control political processes.
2. Responsible Religion: Religious institutions, leaders and individuals should promote peace, tolerance, and social responsibility, while avoiding partisan politics, political favourotism and divisive advocacy.
3. Clear Boundaries: Governance and faith practices must remain institutionally distinct, ensuring that public policies serve all citizens equally, regardless of belief.
4. Civic Education and Awareness: Citizens should be educated to distinguish genuine faith from political propaganda, and encouraged to engage/participate responsibly in democratic processes.
5. Shared Social Goals: Politics and religion should work in parallel for common welfare-addressing issues such as corruption, substance abuse, unemployment, social inequality, education, healthcare, social justice and community development etc., without encroaching upon each other’s distinct roles.
In the context of Nagaland, religion and politics have long existed as parallel forces, given the deeply faith-oriented character of Naga society. Their interaction is natural however, this should not make them interchangeable. In recent times in our State, it is increasingly observed that the boundary between religion and politics is becoming blurred. Sacred spaces, particularly churches, which are meant to foster spiritual growth, unity, and moral guidance, are at times drawn into political discussions and conflicts. When political narratives enter these spaces, it risks transforming platforms of faith into arenas of political influence. Such developments can create divisions among believers and weaken the spiritual sanctity that religious institutions are meant to uphold. Simultaneously, political parties often appeal to religious groups and communities, promising to safeguard their identity and interests. In doing so, they sometimes incorporate religious language, values, and sentiments into their political platforms or manifestos. While acknowledging cultural and religious values is not inherently wrong, excessive reliance on religious identity in politics can encourage polarization and shift focus away from governance, policy, and development.
Religion and politics both play significant roles in society, but they serve different primary purposes. Religion is fundamentally concerned with moral guidance, spiritual well-being, and social harmony. Politics, on the other hand, is about governance, public policy, and administration. When either oversteps its natural domain, the result can be confusion, mistrust, and social fragmentation. For the welfare of society, religious institutions must preserve and maintain their moral authority without becoming instruments of political agendas, and that political leaders must respect religious sentiments without exploiting them for electoral advantage. A healthy democracy and a strong faith community can coexist, provided that each respects the distinct role of the other while working together for peace, harmony, justice, and development.
