“Our country 's founders who were of different religious backgrounds themselves knew the best way to protect religious liberty was to keep the government out of religion. So they created the First Amendment to guarantee the separation of church and state. This fundamental freedom is a major reason why the U.S. has managed to avoid a lot of the religious conflicts that have torn so many other nations apart” (n.d.). The American Constitution refers to religious freedom as being able to practice the religion of your choice without it being forced upon you. Either individuals chose what religion to practice or they practice no religion at all. Like all things there will always be some sort of controversy. Freedom of religion has both positive and negative impacts. A positive impact of religious freedom is the fact that individuals have a choice. We have the freedom to practice whichever religion we chose. On the other hand, we have the choice to not practice any religion. A negative impact is; it allows people to avoid taking responsibility for their actions by justifying their misconduct with the religion they practice.
“The United States is the most religiously diverse country in the world. In no other nation can you find as many varied religious groups, beliefs and practices as there are here. The Founders’ recognized in their own times the great theological differences among not only different religions but also among the many Protestant sects” (Knief, 2011). An important
The freedom of religion is extremely important because it gives us the ability to think for ourselves and to believe in something existential. Without a faith or something to hold onto, what do we really have? Even those who believe in pure science have something to make sense of the world. And those who say they believe in nothing must still
By the middle of the 1700’s, a significant organization took place. From New England to Georgia, different groups of Baptists began to form churches. They had only one doctrinal requirement that united them, i.e., the believer’s baptism by full immersion in water; also, Baptists then had different theological doctrinal beliefs. Notwithstanding, in the 1700’s, Baptist leaders sought to unify and homogenize the Baptist theology; they founded colleges and formed associations. However, the cause of “religious liberty,” was also a unanimous and significant characteristic that united the majority of Baptists. Their participation within their communities distinguished from other denominations. The Baptists were not contending for tolerance but for absolute “religious liberty.” Theirs demand was not for their right only but for the right of all dissenters and non-conformists as well. Some historians affirm that religious liberty in America was accomplished due to the diligence of the American Baptist, which now is proven to be the greatest contribution to American science and statecraft.”11
While many are unaware, the Protestant Reformation continues to be impactful in how people in America today view freedom, government, and rights. In general, the Reformation has played a role on the construction of America’s social order and diversity, the day-to-day natural life, and religious freedom. Beginning with the American Constitution, the foundation of Christianity (unversed in any other part of the world), unites religious moral standards with the American way of thinking regarding cultural diversity, equal rights, religious belief, and sexual characteristics.
Today there are more than 1,500 religious bodies in the United States, ranging from the more than 66 million members of the Roman Catholic Church to sects with fewer than 1,000 adherents. In virtually every region of the country, religion is being expressed in greater variety, whether it be the Latinization of Catholicism and some Christian faiths or the de-Europeanizing of some established Protestant faiths as with Asian Americans or the de-Christianizing of the overall religious landscape with Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, and others (Roof, 2007).
This allows anybody to practice their own religion, without repercussions. The Amendment allows prohibits the government from creating an official religion of the country. “The establishment clause prohibits the government from passing legislation to establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another,” (First Amendment). The Amendment also forces the separation of the church and the state. This ensures that choices will not be made with religion in mind. The freedom of religion also improves immigration throughout the country. Some countries prohibit certain religions and improved immigration. The First Amendment has allowed people to follow their beliefs and has improved people’s lives throughout the United
I think that the constitution was a triumph in republican government for many reasons. The constitution guaranteed basic rights for people, guarded against tyranny and established a new type of government. The basic rights for people included all the amendments. They guarded against tyranny in several ways such as separation of powers and checks and balances and lastly it created a new government by making the power of national and state governments equal.
The Freedom of Religion allows people to believe what they want religiously and not be persecuted or prejudiced against because of it. This is one of the most important ones because America was colonized in the 1600’s for religious freedom and expansion. America liberated itself from Britain for many reasons, one of which is because Britain was telling Americans which religions they could be and what they couldn’t be. This is one of the freedoms that was very
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
One of the main reasons that the settlers came and founded America was for religious freedom. Colonist made the long and dangerous journey for other reasons as well, but a major factor was the search for religious freedom. Coming to America alone did not solve this problem; the journey to religious freedom was just that, a journey. Everyone had a slightly different idea of what this new nation’s ‘religious freedom’ should look like and it took many years to come to a compromise.
The free exercise of religion, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of assembly are each absolutely essential for the health of our Republic. That is why the Founding Fathers enshrined them all in the First Amendment. While some people up hold the first amendment and respect its meaning. Unfortunately, these freedoms are currently under assault by the government, state officials and communities.
“American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us,” by Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell, and “America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity,” by Robert Wuthnow, give different thoughts to religion and politics in the United States. Putnam and Campbell utilize the concepts of shocks and aftershocks to highlight religious changes in the United States. On the other hand, Wuthnow uses observations to focus on the encounters of religious diversity in the United States. Wuthnow compares American Christianity with other popular religions in America and how Christianity has affected the perception of religion. Putnam and Campbell’s “American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us” is a more persuasive assessment of American religion and politics.
Supporting religious freedom is the fundamental right to practice your preferred religion or no religion. When separating the church and state, it avoids religious clashing that is known to have torn other nations apart. The benefits are providing a sense of meaning, purpose, and identity. However, if the government was to not impede on the freedom of religion, they can’t penalize you. For example, in some cases where people might perform an unethical act, such as sacrifices, they can change their religion to the one that fits their beliefs and has okayed their actions. By not having this freedom regulated can justify people’s religion as an excuse for their wrongdoings. We should be allowed to
The United States of America was founded with a credo of religious freedom. They hoped to change the vicious cycle of religious persecution and intolerance that had been swirling through Europe for centuries. Over the last two hundred years this legacy has been shredded and stained. Our religious freedoms have been taken away by people who have twisted what our country was founded to protect.
Respect. Equality in dignity and rights. The right to life. Freedom of expression, religion and beliefs. Freedom from discrimination against race, sex, political opinion or social origin. Affirmation of indigineous peoples and their land rights. These are just a few of the articles listed in Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Un.org 2014), fundamental rights that would appear to be conscionable to all human individuals.
Freedom of Religion is the freedom to pursue any religion you choose without fear of government persecution, sanction or reprisal. Freedom of Religion is protected under the first amendment, which gives American citizens the right to freedom of “speech, religion, press and to assemble and petition”. When the founders wrote it in the Bill of Rights, they put it first for a reason. The original pilgrims fled England after facing religious persecution from the Church of England. Over the years, America still struggles to define what that means. Though we are still arguing, the definitions are surprisingly easy for something that has been argued over so much.