The response to political and social aggression often reveals the deep character of faith communities. When conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University, church leaders swiftly condemned the act and pleaded for greater kindness, compassion and goodness. Similarly, after a gunman killed four worshippers at a congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan, members of their faith organized fundraisers for the shooter’s family. Their response exemplified pure religion — a refusal to meet hate with hate, choosing empathy and grace instead.
The roots of democratic resilience
As a political scientist, I study what makes democracy strong and resilient. My research points to an unexpected conclusion: the most powerful defense against political violence is not found in civics textbooks, legislative policy or campaign speeches. It resides in our churches, synagogues, temples and mosques, places where people learn and practice patience, self-control and mercy.
For the past five years, I have explored the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. The data reveals a clear pattern. Individuals who develop what I call religious becoming — the moral virtues of transcendence, temperance, justice and humanity — are far more likely to reject political violence. Those who embody these virtues are over 75% likely to oppose any justification for political violence; when violence targets civilians, that opposition rises above 95%.
This stands in contrast to traditional measures of religiosity such as attendance, prayer frequency or scripture study, which show weaker connections. Among those high in conventional religious activity, only about 58% say political violence is never justified, and fewer than one in five reject targeting civilians.
Focusing on religious inputs, such as how often people attend or pray, shows how they practice faith but not whether that faith transforms the heart. When measured by inputs alone, religion can divide. When measured by its outcomes, by what faith helps people become, it is a powerful, unifying force for democracy.
The virtues of religious becoming
Every major faith tradition seeks to cultivate these four virtues. A person who learns to see others as children of God or strives for compassion and justice in daily life becomes precisely the kind of citizen democracy depends on. The measure of religious becoming is inclusive because it focuses on outcomes, not doctrine or ritual.
An atheist who develops civic virtue through moral philosophy can score as high in religious becoming as a devout believer whose faith produces similar moral fruit. A Muslim who cultivates transcendence and justice contributes as much to democratic resilience as a Christian or Jew whose faith yields those same virtues.
Consider the meeting between Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam of the Muslim Council of Elders and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. These two faith traditions, despite deep theological differences, found common ground in shared virtues and a desire for peaceful coexistence. Encounters like this demonstrate that religious diversity, when properly understood, strengthens democracy instead of threatening it.
My research also shows that these virtues predict political tolerance more powerfully than education. For decades, social scientists assumed education was the main driver of tolerance, yet the effect of religious becoming is roughly four times stronger. People who cultivate these virtues view diverse groups — from atheists to fundamentalists, progressives to conservatives — as less threatening while maintaining realistic awareness of extremism. They hold firm convictions yet resist the urge to dehumanize opponents.
A path to democratic renewal
As the United States grows less Christian and more religiously diverse, this insight is vital. Democratic renewal does not mean choosing between secularization and Christian nationalism; it requires robust protection for religious liberty across all traditions. Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians and secular humanists who develop transcendence, temperance, justice and humanity all help strengthen democracy’s fragile fabric.
This fortification works only when liberty extends to all. Supporting one faith while marginalizing others violates the nation’s founding principles and undermines democracy itself. Every community that nurtures these virtues deserves protection and respect.
For faith communities, especially in places like Utah, this evidence offers both reassurance and responsibility. The reassurance is that lived religion fortifies democracy. The responsibility is to advocate for religious liberty that protects every faith equally. Democratic resilience depends not on religious uniformity but on the many diverse paths through which citizens cultivate civic virtue.
Faith institutions that wish to reduce political violence should design programs that intentionally foster transcendence, temperance, justice and humanity while building bridges across traditions. Cross-partisan dialogue groups can draw on participants’ spiritual backgrounds to form shared moral commitments. Civic organizations should recognize that nurturing religious becoming may be more effective than traditional civics education alone.
The way forward is not about power or privilege but about bringing religion back into the public square. Society benefits most when all faith traditions flourish and contribute their distinctive moral resources to the common good. In an age of escalating tension and normalized violence, that kind of religion, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish or secular, is essential for making democracy work.