How Naked Is the Public Square? Religion, Public Service, and Implications for Public Administration

Abstract

The study of public administration has a decidedly secular character, a result of an intentional effort to seek legitimacy through professionalization that can be traced back to the Progressive Era. But is this secular orientation wholly descriptive of the practice of public administration? To address this question, the authors examine the religiosity of public servants (governmental and nongovernmental) and non–public servants, as well as the secular attitudes held by members of each group. The study finds that individuals in governmental public service occupations generally are more religious and possess less secular attitudes than those in non–public service occupations.

Explaining Popular Trust in the Department of Homeland Security

“…Other personal dimensions that researchers see growing in importance include the religiosity of citizens. Recent research is finding that fundamentalist religiosity is associated with many political attitudes and policy choices (Berkman and Plutzer 2009;Bolzendahl and Brooks 2005;Brooks 2002;Campbell and Monson 2008;Houston et al 2008;Sherkat 2011;Stokes and Ellison 2010). In addition, citizens' attention to national security issues (Baumgartner et al 2008;Froese and Mencken 2009) and citizens with stronger connectedness to other social elements (Putnam 2001) are evidencing higher trust than those who are not as concerned or who are not closely connected to other people.…”

Public service ethics, values and spirituality in developing and transitional countries: Challenges and opportunities

“…However, in discharging these duties, they sometimes challenge and even violate managerial directives (Noordegraaf, 2007) leading to dysfunctional behaviours. This resonates with the question posed by Houston et al, (Houston, Freeman, & Feldman, 2008:440) in their discussion of public managers' behavior: “ Does a perception that work is a calling lead one to pay more attention to ethical issues on the job? ” thereby challenging the noble public service calling to act on behalf of everyone.…”

A Moral Theory of Public Service Motivation

“…Religion provides triggers of moral foundations that can also be associated with stimuli regarding public service. Catholic morality such as deliverance (related to Sanctity) and obedience (Authority) is institutionalized within the public service in a Catholic country such as France, while Protestant morality such as work ethic and egalitarianism (related to Fairness) is rooted in the public value in the Netherlands (Houston et al, 2008). Similarly, Kim (2009) investigates PSM in Korea and suggests that in a Confucian-oriented society, people tend to respect and honor governments' bureaucrats with a higher social status because of their superior benevolence and administrative ability, which implies the important role of Authority in shaping the commitment to and rationale regarding public service in East Asian countries.…”