PPOL 500
Morality, and Worldview Play in of the Affordable Care Act
PPOL 500: Intro to Public Policy
Religion, morality and worldview play a big role in the creation of public policy.
However, there must be an understanding to what public policy actually is. Relating back to
Shawn Akers, public policy is an idea combined with governmental action (Akers 2020, 0:1:34
to 0:1:44). Anyone who influences a government to either take an action or to not take an action
has transformed an idea through governmental action into policy (Akers 2020 0:1:54 to 0:2:11).
Furthermore, public policy can also be defined as anything a government chooses to do or not to
do. How I would define public policy is sets of rules and regulations which affects citizens
livelihood.
Worldview is interpreted as the intellectual, spiritual, and emotional framework by
which we interpret life (Fischer 2020, 0:1:06 to 0:1:16). It represents his/her fundamental beliefs
about the world. In a biblical sense, humans are created in God’s image and they have free will
instead of random chance. Therefore, any policy that does not aligned with a biblical worldview
perspective does not gain support.
“The Role of Christian Belief in Public Policy” was written by Robert D. Orr in 2007.
This article offers a Christian perspective on public policy. Orr comes to a conclusion that “it is
neither possible or desirable for Christians to try to force their views on others. Still, it is
obligatory for Christians to stand up and articulate their views in the public square.” Therefore,
he believes the best solution would be to use prudential or moral arguments (Orr 2007, 199). He
starts by offering insight from another theologian, Carl F. H. Henry. Henry states that God is
“the source, stipulator, and sanction of the right and good. He is the ultimate ground law and
morality.” With this quote, one can infer that faith tradition is greater than moral views based on
, the fact that rights and civility was created by God himself. Orr then mentions the difference
between evangelism and social action. For example, during the “The Great Reversal” in the
twentieth century, there was a separation between Christians who focused on personal
transformation (evangelism), and those who dedicated time to social action (Orr 2007, 200). A
great example of the latter would be the Civil Rights Movement and the quest for racial
equality and desegregation. Christian influence played a big part during the movement.
Morality also plays are role in the creation of public policy. Laws and policies are often
based on principles of morality. “Murder, rape, child abuse, incest, bigamy, and theft are
criminal offenses because they are not morally wrong. Knowing there is a stiff penalty for
breaking one of those laws may or may not act as a deterrent” (Orr 2007, 203). The point is, if a
heinous crime is committed, there must be a punishment. With morality, any action as a
consequence attach to it. However, some laws and public policies are not based on morality, but
on prudence; “they are in place only, or at least primarily, to maintain public order and avoid bad
consequences, e.g., traffic laws and most civil laws (Orr 2007, 203).
A religion’s perspective in public policy has always been debatable. Historically, it has
been said there should always be a separation between church and state. Worldview begins
with people. It is how one views the world and life itself. Worldview shapes values, theories
and, decisions. Therefore, it is easy how religion, moral and worldview play in the creation of
public policy.
“Affordable Health Care Act and Individual Mandate” is an article written by Jim Chen
and James Corprew and published on January 2014. Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act, also known as Affordable Care Act and Obama Care was signed into law on March 23,
2020. The Supreme Court upheld the law shortly after in June of 2012. This was a big
milestone for President Obama and the Obama administration. Affordable health care was a
Morality, and Worldview Play in of the Affordable Care Act
PPOL 500: Intro to Public Policy
Religion, morality and worldview play a big role in the creation of public policy.
However, there must be an understanding to what public policy actually is. Relating back to
Shawn Akers, public policy is an idea combined with governmental action (Akers 2020, 0:1:34
to 0:1:44). Anyone who influences a government to either take an action or to not take an action
has transformed an idea through governmental action into policy (Akers 2020 0:1:54 to 0:2:11).
Furthermore, public policy can also be defined as anything a government chooses to do or not to
do. How I would define public policy is sets of rules and regulations which affects citizens
livelihood.
Worldview is interpreted as the intellectual, spiritual, and emotional framework by
which we interpret life (Fischer 2020, 0:1:06 to 0:1:16). It represents his/her fundamental beliefs
about the world. In a biblical sense, humans are created in God’s image and they have free will
instead of random chance. Therefore, any policy that does not aligned with a biblical worldview
perspective does not gain support.
“The Role of Christian Belief in Public Policy” was written by Robert D. Orr in 2007.
This article offers a Christian perspective on public policy. Orr comes to a conclusion that “it is
neither possible or desirable for Christians to try to force their views on others. Still, it is
obligatory for Christians to stand up and articulate their views in the public square.” Therefore,
he believes the best solution would be to use prudential or moral arguments (Orr 2007, 199). He
starts by offering insight from another theologian, Carl F. H. Henry. Henry states that God is
“the source, stipulator, and sanction of the right and good. He is the ultimate ground law and
morality.” With this quote, one can infer that faith tradition is greater than moral views based on
, the fact that rights and civility was created by God himself. Orr then mentions the difference
between evangelism and social action. For example, during the “The Great Reversal” in the
twentieth century, there was a separation between Christians who focused on personal
transformation (evangelism), and those who dedicated time to social action (Orr 2007, 200). A
great example of the latter would be the Civil Rights Movement and the quest for racial
equality and desegregation. Christian influence played a big part during the movement.
Morality also plays are role in the creation of public policy. Laws and policies are often
based on principles of morality. “Murder, rape, child abuse, incest, bigamy, and theft are
criminal offenses because they are not morally wrong. Knowing there is a stiff penalty for
breaking one of those laws may or may not act as a deterrent” (Orr 2007, 203). The point is, if a
heinous crime is committed, there must be a punishment. With morality, any action as a
consequence attach to it. However, some laws and public policies are not based on morality, but
on prudence; “they are in place only, or at least primarily, to maintain public order and avoid bad
consequences, e.g., traffic laws and most civil laws (Orr 2007, 203).
A religion’s perspective in public policy has always been debatable. Historically, it has
been said there should always be a separation between church and state. Worldview begins
with people. It is how one views the world and life itself. Worldview shapes values, theories
and, decisions. Therefore, it is easy how religion, moral and worldview play in the creation of
public policy.
“Affordable Health Care Act and Individual Mandate” is an article written by Jim Chen
and James Corprew and published on January 2014. Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act, also known as Affordable Care Act and Obama Care was signed into law on March 23,
2020. The Supreme Court upheld the law shortly after in June of 2012. This was a big
milestone for President Obama and the Obama administration. Affordable health care was a
