Personal belief versus universal truth: Religion rhetoric in death penalty policy debates in the United States

Abstract

What role do religious themes play when state legislators in the United States debate the death penalty? We analyze floor speeches delivered during debate on death penalty repeal bills in three states to systematically consider who speaks of religion and what they say. We find religion is discussed in about one in seven death penalty speeches, with advocates and opponents of capital punishment referencing religion roughly proportionally. Catholic legislators do speak of religion somewhat more frequently in their death penalty remarks than members with no public religious affiliation. Most notable though is the orientation of the religion remarks. Those who invoke religion in opposition to the death penalty are much more likely to cite religion as a personal source of guidance. Those who invoke religion in support of the death penalty are much more likely to cite religion as a universal, immutable truth applicable to all. We argue that this difference in religious rhetoric has important implications for democratic representation.