Religion In America Essay

It is believed that America was a country founded on religious principles, however as the country aged, the concept of separation of church and state was created. This notion was meant to prevent religious ideas and practices from infiltrating the government. Although many people today accept separation of church and state as normal and effective since its implementation, the truth is the U.S. government has still had an influence in society’s perception of religion. In the nation’s history, the Government has controlled and encouraged certain religious beliefs in many explicit, yet subtle, ways. For example, the Government has had a large hand in monitoring religious beliefs in the army; the effects of this can be seen in the case of the four

In this war Americans fought against ideals that went against the nations values. Ideas such as Nazism and Communism. The U.S. government saw Nazism and communism as a threat to the country and its wellbeing. As a result, the government sought to discourage American citizens from buying into the ideas that it had worked so hard to expunge during the war. One method the government used to do so was to encourage unity and discourage disagreement. This was done under the mask of religion. The U.S. government thought that by instilling “religious” values into the nation, then the citizens would be discouraged from partaking in the dangerous Nazi and communist ideas. Starting in the army. The government believed “the notion of Judeo-Christian universalist ideals promised to build morale among the troops”, morale that would trickle into the greater of society and prevent people from agreeing with Nazism and Communism. (GI Jews 123) This religious manipulation was the “spiritual side of democratic ethos.”(GI Jews 123) In other words, the government found religion as an effective way from discouraging the nation from Nazi and communist

The government thought that using religious ideals to unite the country would allow Americans to feel pride and patriotism in the country. Attaining reliogus unity in such a diverse nation was a difficult task the government had to accomplish. This task, according to Saperstein “would require finding an acceptable path through this complex thicket.”(GI Jews 124) The only way the government could accomplish religious unity was by watering down religious values enough so that all religions could agree on the religious identity America tried to create for itself. To encourage nationalism and religion, the Government placed small religious notions all throughout society. For example on the dollar bill it the phrase “In God we trust”. This phrase is vague enough that many religious groups can agree on it. In addition, in the pledge of allegiance the phrase “one nation under God” further helps to create nationalism through united religious beliefs. Using religion to create a national identity and loyalty to America appears to have worked, because even in modern times, despite the increased diversity, America is viewed as a country that believes in God and is proud of that