America's Secular Ideal

The act of defining religion has been a contentious issue in a wide variety of situations, particularly in the United States. The US is a nation that prides itself on religious inclusivity and freedom. There are consequences to this belief and tenant. Through the social, legal and moral structures of the United States, defining religion has become imperative. In The Impossibility of Religious Freedom, Winifred Sullivan outlines the legal implications of defining religion in the United States. In order for religious freedom to be protected by the American state, religion must be clearly defined. As a result, religious theory must be used to maintain some semblance of religious freedom in the United States. Likewise, Josh Dubler’s Down in

Obama attempts to handle this problem by separating the role of religion in one's personal life from that of one's public, political life. He differentiates between basing one's life and basing one's policy-making on the “uncompromising commitments” (7) of religion, calling the former “sublime” and the latter “dangerous”. In his view, religion should be central in private, but cannot be the deciding factor in choices that affect the public. Unfortunately, this

As previously stated, the word secular very simply just means not pertaining to religion. Secularism, on the other hand, is a system of beliefs that religion should be ignored in social and political matters. For example, the US is secular because we practice secularism. In other words, our government is non-religious because we do not believe that religion belongs in our civil affairs. Pakistan is founded as a religious country in the sense that its government is based on Islamic beliefs. Their very constitution makes references to Islam various times and people are expected to live their lives according to what was stated in religious books such as the Quran or Sunnah. This is relevant to Bhutto's ideas because she wants people to understand

In his essay “The Meaning of Secularity”, Charles Taylor examines the role of religion in modern life in the United States, arguing that -- while it is invoked in public life -- it is generally a matter that has been supplanted by a new, modern “social imaginary” inspired by the various secular movements of the modern era. However, one key mistake is made by Taylor in his analysis. He fails to understand that the United States is sharply divided along political and demographic lines, and that each of these divisions represent drastically different ideas of the role of religion in government and public life.

The United States of America is a free country that encourages its citizens to observe and express their freedom. This freedom is expressed in different ways and forms which include the freedom to exercise any type of religion without the government’s interference or support. This freedom is primarily safeguarded by the Constitution. The forefathers of American democracy proclaim the separation of Church and State to ensure that there is no encroaching of powers between the two entities. However, further actions of the state tend to support the cause of the church and vice versa. With these developments, one could argue that the state and the church are not totally independent from

Today’s discussion of America’s religious and cultural diversity echoes these voices of the past. America’s new religious diversity has produced fault lines, the cracks that indicate deep fractures and divisions. As experienced by immigrant Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, or Muslim communities, stereotypes and prejudice have taken both old and new forms. There are encounters—at times hostile—over “zoning” and “traffic,” as new religious communities move into the neighborhood.

Is there moral truth? Where does it come from and who decides? Man? God? Do our beliefs truly matter in the face of society? Or is religion only to be kept silent in our own homes. Separation of Church and State. This statement has not only caused controversy in the “rights” a church has, but has also lessened the impact a person of faith can have on society. Separation of Church and State has been falsely identified as being a part of the first amendment, however it is directly stated in the US Constitution that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the practice of a religion or prohibiting the practice of this religion in the eyes of society. Not once is Separation of Church and State mentioned in the First Amendment. However due to this inaccurate assumption, those involved in a religious activities in public settings have been victims towards brutality and minor religious persecution. The rampant influx of religious brutality in society, especially towards employees of various professions, has brought the first amendment under flame as society is beginning to question the true validity in the idea of “freedom of religion”.

Secularism according to some people is the belief that man does not need God to be good. Secularism is also defined as a system of doctrines and practices that disregards any form of religious faith and worship. Secularism has become widespread throughout the world and has been adopted by almost all countries. Most country leaders do not identify their country with a particular religion publically, but as a personal choice.

In Modern America, many values that people live by are influenced by the concept of religion. Religion teaches the values in life whether the religion is Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or any kind. The concept of religion being the overarching idea that teaches people values even goes back centuries ago. For instance, the Puritan society was heavily influenced by religion. They lived by the values the bible has taught them and religion was such a big influence that the power was present even in the government. From this kind of society, America has revolutionized into a new society while some concepts will always stay the same.

One of things that primarily guided America and its social norms was religion. Since the time of migrating to religion has constantly been at the heart of America’s priorities. Not did religion guide the social norms of the nation, but it also provided American’s

: The article called Religion, Meaning and Prejudice was written by Bruce Hunsberger and Lynne M. Jackson and published in 2005. The purpose of this article is to analyze the links between religion and prejudice that have been interpreted to suggest that religion can both reduce and exacerbate prejudice and to provide an analysis of religion as a meaning system that illustrates how religion can affect intergroup attitudes. The target population the article is geared towards other psychologists. The article begins with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001 and how people were affected while trying to understand what happened that day. The role of religion- based prejudice illustrates the

In recent decades, however, public prominence of religious views has grown even as the nation's religious diversity has increased. In this context, maintaining a pluralistic democracy demands a corresponding advance in our citizens' capacity to understand religious differences, as well as the ability and willingness to engage across differences of belief for the sake of the common good. We are disturbed by surveys that reveal a citizenry inexperienced in engaging others on issues of religious and moral differences and moral debate. It is also worrisome that studies suggest that Americans are increasingly less tolerant of others’ religious views while being less likely to compromise when their religious views are at stake. That all this is happening at a time when an increasingly large segment of the American public is studying in institutions of higher education raises directly the question of the academy’s appropriate response to these

The United States of America has its history written in religion. Religion and government are important topics in almost every citizen’s daily life. The act of extrication religion and politics has been a complicated topic for many years. Because the United States of America has so many roots in religion, many political figures prey on the religious beliefs in their civil duties as a public servant. According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, “Throughout the nation’s history, political and social movements- from abortion to women’s suffrage to civil rights- have drawn upon religious institutions for moral authority, inspirational leadership and organizational muscle.” The United States has a long standing tradition of separating church and state but almost all politicians run on a campaign that encompasses many religious ideals. According to Pew recent elections more than ever have had religion deeply woven into the fabrics of politics. Religion has found its way into almost all of the fabrics of our lives and has been leaking its way into one thing that was originally supposed to be kept separate. This controversy even dates back to twenty- three B.C and can be found deep in the roots of the Roman Empire, can be found in the constitution, but for America to be a “Land of the Free”, the practice of church and state intermingling must stop.

As we move toward a religiously diverse America, the call to separate religion and politics grows. As Americans head into the future there is a huge immersion of the different religions into one common society. It is becoming a challenge in trying to appease and maintain these different religions in the secular social world.

1. As a nation, we share many blessings and strengths, including a tradition of religious freedom and political participation. However, as a people, we face serious challenges that are clearly political and also profoundly moral.