Christianity and democracy

by Michael Shackleton · June 2, 2009

Is true democracy possible only in Christianity?

Democracy is usually accepted to be the system in which free people govern themselves either directly or indirectly by freely electing others to represent them and their common and personal interests and welfare. In practice this is seen in the modern democratic state. By true democracy you probably mean ideal democracy. There is no such thing. There is only the�concerted effort to perfect democratic reality.

The�concept of contemporary democracy probably developed in the 18th and 19th centuries in America and Europe, that were, for the most part, Christian. Before then, people were aware that they should be free to have�a say in the way that they were governed but there was no general�consensus how to put�this into practice, and kings and other strong rulers took charge. It was expected that a righteous ruler, especially a Christian one, would apply laws and regulations justly. This was, however, frequently not the case.

Christian tradition can be said to have influenced practical democracy in so far as it upholds the dignity of the human person, the equality of all individuals in the sight of God, human rights and personal responsibility for one’s actions.�Yet democratically elected governments can and do pass laws that contradict Christian principles.

Democratic forms of government are evolving in places that have no historically Christian background, but not always with success. Western democracy grew from the the industrial revolution and the production of wealth as well as an educated population having the vote, and savvy enough to see when injustice was being practised against the weak by the strong. Developing peoples lack such advantages and are usually also characterised by authoritarian cultures that are by no means egalitarian. India and Japan are notably democratic states.

Conservative Muslim countries often appear to suspect that democracy, giving the people the power to elect their own rulers, implies a defiance of God�s supreme power over all of creation.

Pius XII in 1945 said that the democratic form of government could be �a postulate of nature imposed by reason itself� (Benignitas et humanitas), and subsequent popes have also said as much. So, the ideal democratic state is not a Christian construct but presumably can succeed wherever citizens are free to express their preferences through the ballot box.