Role of Religion in Politics: How the Original Political Theorist Viewed Religion

Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat at the turn of the 16th century. What Machiavelli is best known for today is his essay, "The Prince." In "The Prince," Machiavelli outlines clearly and realistically the best means by which one can seize and retain political power. Often viewed as a book about basic human nature, Machiavelli's pragmatic view of mankind has been controversial since it was first written. Many have called "The Prince" by another name, "The Book of Power." Machiavelli's ideas about the animal nature of mankind and how best to control one's subjects have become the basis of modern political theory. In this article, we will examine the way in which Machiavelli believes faith should influence a ruler, and how his views contrasted with the popular views of the times.

In the eighteenth chapter of "The Prince" Machiavelli discusses the context in which faith should influence a prince. Machiavelli argues that a prince should "appear all mercy, all faith, all honesty, all humanity, all religion," and that "the vulgar are taken in by the appearance and the outcome of a thing, and in the world there is no one but the vulgar". Machiavelli means that a ruler should always appear to be religious, because his subjects will expect it of him. However, since none of his subjects will ever get to know the prince on a personal level, his policies and decisions should be based solely on shrewd calculation. To Machiavelli, religion is not a guiding force to shape a nations leadership, but a disguise for leaders to wear as they do whatever will give them the most control over their people . This pragmatic viewpoint is in sharp contrast to the leadership that the society of the time would have considered ideal. Although leaders throughout history have been known to use religion as a mask for political ambition, such behavior was veiled. Machiavelli is the first political analyst to commend this method as an acceptable one.