What Does God Have To Do With It? : A study of the impact Protestant Christianity had on United States foreign policy during the Cold War.

Authors

Garrett Layde, The College of WoosterFollow

Abstract

Protestant Christianity in America has shaped citizen’s lives since the nation’s founding. This claim is supported by actions of past Presidents, a general consensus of American citizens, and the intertwining of the American identity with a religious identity. This study aims to show how Protestant Christianity affected the way Americans viewed certain phenomena during the Cold War. The Lavender Scare is the first case I study, applying Stephan and Stephan’s Integrated Threat Theory of Prejudice to how Americans and leaders within the United States government associated homosexuality with communism. I then explore the decisions behind America’s involvement in the Iran-Iraq War, and use Constructivism to show that countries with shared values and goals cooperate at a higher capacity than nations who do not.

Advisor

N'Diaye, Boubacar

Second Advisor

Park, Chan Sok

Department

Religious Studies; Political Science

Recommended Citation

Layde, Garrett, "What Does God Have To Do With It? : A study of the impact Protestant Christianity had on United States foreign policy during the Cold War." (2019). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 8526.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/8526

Publication Date

2019

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis