The Minister In Politics -- By: Karl F. Geiser

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 71:282 (Apr 1914)
Article: The Minister In Politics
Author: Karl F. Geiser


The Minister In Politics

Karl F. Geiser, Ph.D.

Whatever explanation may be given, it is a remarkable fact that political science, which regards Aristotle as its founder, has not yet won its primary conquest of a respectful popular hearing in America. It has not yet compelled the public, as it has, for example, in Germany — at least since the days of the great minister Stein — to regard either the opinion of living authorities on government or the works of great political writers of the past as a preponderating factor in the determination of forms of government or the course of legislation. The election of Woodrow Wilson to the presidency of the United States was the exception which proves the rule; and indeed some foreign observers expressed surprise that America had actually risen to the occasion of electing a trained political scientist to such an important office.1

And yet no other branch of knowledge is held in such popular disregard. The historian is seldom challenged on his own ground except by another historian; the lawyer has little difficulty in convincing a client that the bar is gifted with men whose opinions before a court will outweigh those of any other profession; the patient submits to the physician, and no one but the German Emperor would venture to dispute the merits of a Rembrandt, a Raphael, or a sonata of Beethoven; the astronomer is alone among the stars as the physicist is among the electrons, and even in religion the layman at most dissents from the minister. In all these fields there is a willing concession on the part of society to the opinion of the expert or specialist. This willingness to yield obedience to authority, however, does not apply to political science; and perhaps the members of no other profession are given more to ignoring its principles than are those of the clergy, who, with the best intentions, thus tend to retard true reform rather than help it. This is especially true because of the large influence of ministers in forming and directing public sentiment; at the same time, in thus preempting the field of politics, ministers, in a measure, prevent scientific opinions from receiving that popular attention and consideration which is necessary to all sound political action. Just as it would be difficult for ministers to succeed if the educational system of the country were opposed to Christianity, so the progress in disseminating correct political views among the masses will be retarded until the field is cleared of obstructions; it is not so at present. In his endeavor to give society a sound political philosophy as a working basis for social advancement, the political scientist finds, at every turn, foreign agencies disputing his ...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()