The Role of Religion in Shaping Georgia's Political Culture

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Religious tests have shaped the political culture in Georgia from establishment to post- Independence. Since the establishment of Georgia as one of the thirteen colonies of America to the era post-Independence, Religion has played a large role in shaping Georgia’s political culture. In Colonial Georgia there were many religious tests that were enforced that affected the political atmosphere and structure. These traditions carried through the time period post-independence regardless of federal statutes. The federal Government established the trend of separation of church and state, that is explicitly expressed and established through Article VI of the United States Constitution. The Article IV states, “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

The United States Constitution is to be supreme in power and should also be abided by the states however, in the aspect of Religion in politics; this has not been the case. This issue has historically been a struggle and in the case of Georgia, this has as well proven to be difficult. Georgia has historically placed many requirements on attaining political office on Religious qualifications, which does not agree with the federal government’s standing on this issue. First to clarify what a religious test is very important in the understanding of the argument. The definition of religious tests is a legal religious requirement to obtain and hold office. ...

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...otestants could be elected officials supports this argument. The only constituency that I do not fully agree with is that religion and politics are so closely related, because people during this time were very religious and their religious beliefs were to keep politics morally right. This establishes that the power of religion is greater than political power. (Corbett 55-67)

Work Cited

Albert B. Saye (ed.). Georgia's Charter of 1732. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1942.

Corbett, Michael and Julia. Politics and Religion in the United States. Garland Publishing, Inc. (1999).

Georgia Constitution of 1777. 15 February 2011.

.

Sodaro, Michael J., and Dean Walter Collinwood. "Chapter 12." Comparative Politics: a

Global Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. 293-95.

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