The Consequences of Elevating Politics to a Religion.

This article examines how politics and scientism have increasingly taken on roles akin to religion in American culture, filling a spiritual void left by the decline of organized religion. It argues that elevating politics to a dogmatic, fundamentalist status fosters division, dehumanization, and harms mental and physical health, while scientism—the belief that science is the sole source of truth—dismisses important spiritual and moral dimensions of life. The article highlights the potential harmony between science and spirituality, as described by the concept of Non-Overlapping Magisteria (NOMA), and critiques the rise of fundamentalism in both politics and science for undermining public discourse and empathy. It concludes by urging a balanced approach that values political engagement and scientific progress without expecting them to fulfill all human needs for meaning and connection.