Author: Angelica Compton
Graduation Year: 2006
Advisor: Diana Owen
Reader: Eric Zimmer
Date: 12 July 2007
Link to Thesis:
In March of 2003 the United States entered into a war with Iraq. Prior to the war’s beginning, there was much political discourse surrounding the proposed military action. While the United States was attempting to build political support for war with Iraq, another type of discourse was taking place. World religious leaders were also speaking out about the probability of war, though many of them were speaking out in opposition to the war through speeches, written statements and letters to the President. Observationally however, religious Americans seemed more likely to support the war than non-religious Americans. This study raises the question “Why is there a discrepancy in support for the war in Iraq between religious followers and religious leaders?”
This thesis builds on a body of evidence that suggests that, in the United States, religion has played and continues to play an important role in U.S. politics. It also considers the impact that media coverage can have on support for political and religious issues. This study uses a multi-method approach involving surveys of religious affiliation and support for the war in Iraq, and content analysis of media coverage of the war in Iraq to better define the relationship between religious Americans and support for the war. Survey results indicate that religious Americans are more likely to support the war in Iraq than non-religious Americans, while content analysis data indicates that U.S. newspapers are covering the relationship between U.S. religion and the war in Iraq only to a small extent. The study also suggests that alternative forms of media may have more of an impact on the beliefs of religious Americans than traditional newspapers and offers suggestions for further research on the topic.