Faith and the Formation of Civic Character
Our civic life is not made up solely of laws and policy positions, votes and candidate preferences. Our civic life is more than the sum of a people’s stances on a set of issues. Instead, our civic life is shaped by the form of our conduct as much as by the aim of our conduct. Therefore, any comprehensive conception of what constitutes a “good” citizen must be informed by more than policy preferences and political ideology, but also, even primarily, by the way in which an individual participates in civic life and processes. Yet, it seems to me that we under-appreciate and do not put nearly enough emphasis on civic character. For this reason, I was especially glad to participate in the latest FIAD convening earlier this month in which our Learning Community considered how faith-inspired groups and religious communities develop civic character, and contribute to the civic character of those they serve and of the nation.
From various perspectives and religious backgrounds and experiences, many members of the Learning Community affirmed the unique capacity of religious communities’ to shape the affections, values, and character of those who take part in them. Shoshanna Spector, of Faith in Indiana, shared that religious communities involve a fabric of relationships developed over a long time in a purpose-oriented context. “Congregations bring so much to the table: moral…
