Seperation of Government and Religion

1875 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Role of religion in politics

Faith groups and institutions should not be allowed to form political parties and they should not attempt to gain influence in the workings of government for their views and values by entering the realm of political discourse and attempting to elect their own politicians. Throughout our history there has been an ongoing argument between religion and government. Should religion play a part in the government, schools and other social compasses or should it be separated? Some believe that religion should be a part of the government while others believe that there should be a distinct separation. Some believe that religions should be able to influence the workings of the government and attempt to elect their own politicians. I believe the opposite. I believe that religion should have no influence on the way our government approves laws, elects officials or conducts their business. Throughout this essay I will give reasons and references as to why I agree with the separation of government and religion. Some examples of conflict that have occurred in America are as follows: same sex marriages, abortion, in-virto fertilization and equal rights between the sexes (The Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion, n.d). If religion were to rule our nation these issues would be illegal simply because of the Bible. One of the great things about our nation is having individual choices like the issues listed above. People shouldn’t be judged or persecuted simply because they might not have the same religious beliefs as another. There is a significant difference between government and religious morals even though both are ethical authorities. These two moral authorities conflict with one another while both are to help people make sou... ... middle of paper ... ...ontent.bellevue.edu/content/CAS/eBooks/Kirkpatrick/Book1.mobi King, M. L. (1963). American Rhetoric. Retrieved from: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm Madison, J. (1789). The Bill of Rights. Retrieved from: http://idcontent.bellevue.edu/content/CAS/eBooks/Kirkpatrick/Book1.pdf Madison, J. (1787). The Constitution. Retrieved from: http://idcontent.bellevue.edu/content/CAS/eBooks/Kirkpatrick/Book1.pdf Mason, C., & Galusha, R., The constitution, [Video file]. Retrieved from http://idcontent.bellevue.edu/content/CAS/kss/week3/ Saudi Arabia Declares Destruction of All Churches in Region (April 1, 2013). Retrieved from: http://www.charismanews.com/world/38896-saudi-arabia-declares-destruction-of-all-churches-in-region United States Constitution. (Nov. 13, 2013). Retrieved from: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Constitution.html

Show More
Related

  • Religion And Morality In George Washington's Farewell Address

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Washington clearly and strongly asserts that the aspects of religion and morality were important not only for happiness of the people and the county, but also were vital in supporting political growth and well-being for the nation. Accordingly, Washington proclaims, “of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensible supports” (Washington, 1796). Washington contends that religious principle is crucial to operating the government on the grounds that it affects all that are “foundations of justice” (Washington, 1796).

    Read More

  • One Nation, Under God

    2046 Words  | 5 Pages

    With sounds of youthful laughter, conversations about the students’ weekends, and the shuffling of college ruled paper; students file into their classrooms and find their seats on a typical Monday morning. As the announcements travel throughout the school’s intercoms, the usual “Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance” becomes no longer usual but rather puzzling to some students. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all.” Confusion passes through some of the student’s minds. With the reoccurrence of “God” in the backdrop of American life, the relationship between church and state has become of little to no matter for American citizens just as it has with American students. While congress makes no law respecting an establishment of religion, the term “freedom of religion” presents itself to no longer be the definition of “free”, while also having its effects on debates today. According to Burt Rieff, in Conflicting Rights and Religious Liberty, “Parents, school officials, politicians, and religious leaders entered the battle over defining the relationship between church and state, transforming constitutional issues into political, religious, and cultural debates” (Rieff). Throughout the 20th century, many have forgotten the meaning of religion and what its effects are on the people of today. With the nonconformist society in today’s culture, religion has placed itself in a category of insignificance. With the many controversies of the world, religion is at a stand still, and is proven to not be as important as it was in the past. Though the United States government is based on separation of church and state, the gover...

    Read More

  • The Constitutional Principle of Separation of Church and State

    1636 Words  | 4 Pages

    Proponents of a highly limited separation of church and state often argue that America’s founding fathers would be appalled at the extent to which the Judeo...

    Read More

  • Separation of Church and State

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Separation of Church and State,” is a theory derived from different parts of the constitution; primarily the first and fourteenth amendment. The first amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment or religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof....” The first amendment says that there can not be any laws against anyone’s individual religion. How far can we take this though? There are circumstances when you don’t want the government to intervene with your personal beliefs but is it sometimes necessary? What if there was a Satanist who believed in killing all other races. If the government was to punish them, wouldn’t that be suppressing their religious freedom? No. Sometimes different laws override the previous. For example, someone cannot practice their religion if it infringes upon another person’s rights.

    Read More

  • Against the Prohibition of Posting the Ten Commandments in Public Schools

    983 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion should not be taken out of public schools that are funded by the government, because our government was based on religious principles from the very beginning. Our government was founded o...

    Read More

  • The Importance of Christianity in Early American History

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Religion and the Founding of the American Republic.” Library of Congress. Accessed May 14, 2014. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel04.html.

    Read More

  • Religions Role in a Totalitarian Government

    900 Words  | 2 Pages

    A person’s religion has a large affect on how they live their day-to-day lives. It can influence the choices they make. Someone’s opinion on the government and the running of a country can also affect what they can and cannot do about religious issues. When religious freedom is taken away or silenced, people will either back down or speak up. A totalitarian government controls over everything society does, from public to private things. In a totalitarian government, religion can be put aside on certain issues.

    Read More

  • Separation of Church and State

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Separation of Church and State Protects Both Secular and Religious Worlds.” Phi Delta Kappan Feb. 2000: 462.

    Read More

  • The separation of church and state

    1183 Words  | 3 Pages

    The separation of church and state has been a long debated topic in the history of America. Although founded upon Christian ideals, the framers of the Constitution explicitly outlined the government to function secularly, in what is commonly referred to as the “Establishment Clause”. When interpreting the Constitution in regards to religion, there are two primary philosophies. The first philosophy this paper will explore will be referred to as Positive Toleration. In general, the idea of positive toleration creates an environment that is encouraging of all religions. The second philosophy, which will be referred to as the “Wall of Separation,” encourages government freedom from religion. Although historically these two philosophies have jockey back and forth in public popularity, as America moves into the future, the Wall of Separation philosophy will take a strong-hold and will set the course for how the Establishment Clause will affect local government, schools, and private religious practice.

    Read More

  • Morality and Religion by Iris Murdoch

    530 Words  | 2 Pages

    Morals are usually the standards by one which lives in, whether them being good or bad. However, how about when religion influences ones morals? Religion isn’t or it doesn’t work for everyone, and that’s okay. But, there are many people out there that religion influences their morals; and the most common reason for that is that religion was influenced into them and into their morals as a child. Iri...

    Read More

  • The Problem With Excessive Religious Freedom

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    Caplan, Arthur. "Government Should Override Personal Belief." Bach, Julie S., ed. Religion in America: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1989.

    Read More

  • Legal Decease Of Freedom In The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood

    1233 Words  | 3 Pages

    A religion’s “rules” must stay between the devout people only as taboos; implication of sect in the legislative system and governance not only threatens the wellbeing of country’s own citizens, but it also prevents any kind of brain drain into the country which is an essential source of progression for any community. Therefore, governments should only be serving for the well being of the citizens, peace and democracy among the country; the youth should embrace the values United Nations strictly recognizes and be aware that it is best when the religion is separated from governance. Secularism must be recognized which is a case only possible if there is a massive change in the governments of these religious countries; massive changes comes with the actions of citizens. All citizens must be informed about the inconveniences caused by religious laws more frequently for a change in government since the censorship in media is extremely common in these countries. Hence, the youth should be more focused on bearing the messages objectively among the country. That transformation of the ideology of the youth can most efficiently be achieved by them having conversations and strong friendships with other teenagers of more democratic countries which recognizes

    Read More

  • The Separation of Church and State

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... time on taking these aspects away. Moral decline and persecution of religious practices are evident and growing in our society. When did American culture become so bitter towards the concept our country is based upon? Has the concept of God really led to turmoil and destruction? The answers to these questions may go unanswered, but the facts remain the same: Our society has taken the first amendment and Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptist Association and interpreted it to mean that God has no place in our country’s make up. However, our political system suggests otherwise with examples such as the Pledge of Allegiance, Presidential Speeches, and currency.

    Read More

  • Religion : Religion And Religion

    1514 Words  | 4 Pages

    For thousands of years, religion has exerted a great influence over economic and political life. Even today religion is called upon to support rulers, contacts and other legal procedures.

    Read More

  • The Role of Religion in Politics

    2726 Words  | 6 Pages

    The role of religion in politics is a topic that has long been argued, and has contributed to the start of wars, schisms (both political and religious), and other forms of inter and intra-state conflict. This topic, as a result of its checkered past, has become quite controversial, with many different viewpoints. One argument, put forth by many people throughout history, is that religion and the government should remain separate to avoid any conflicting interests. This view also typically suggests that there is one, or several, large and organized religions like the Roman Catholic Church, which would be able to use their “divine” authority to sway the politics of a given state by promising or threatening some form of godly approval or disapproval. By leveraging their divine power, individual figures within a religion, as well as the religion as a whole, could gain secular power for themselves, or over others. A second view, which was developed by many theologians through history, suggests that that without religion there would be a general lack of morality in the people and leaders of a given state, which would give way to poor political decisions that would not be in the interest of the people and perhaps even God (or the gods). This argument, however, does not address the fact that morality can exist without religion. In sociology, it is commonly accepted that social norms, which include morality, can result from any number of things. Religion, laws, or the basic desire of survival can all create these norms, so it suffices to say that as a society, our morals reflect our desire to live in relative peace through the creation of laws that serve to help us to survive. The argument of whether or not religion and politics should mix...

    Read More

More about Seperation of Government and Religion

Open Document