Is Religious Freedom A Myth?

David Barton’s Original Intent: The Courts, The Constitution, and Religion, breaks down the significance of how religion was intended in the First Amendment and its effect on the phrase, “Separation of Church and State.” Barton well illustrates how the founding fathers incorporated the position of religion into the First Amendment. Barton explains how the House Judiciary Committee believes, “The founders did respect other religions; however, they neither promoted pluralism nor intended that the First Amendment do so” (175). They continue to discuss how the founding fathers were all Christians and they expect it to remain that way in the lives of the citizens. In Barton’s views of the First Amendment, he believes it has changed dramastically

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.

Reno, R.R. "Defending religious liberty." First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life 225 (2012): 3+. Academic OneFile. Web. 3 Mar. 2015.

The major changes in American religion that occurred in the early nineteenth century were the Second Great Awakening. The Second Great Awakening was a Christian Revival movement during the early nineteenth century. The movement began around 1800, it had begun to gain momentum from the 1820. With the Second Great Awakening; new religions were established, there were different academic curriculums, a change from the trinity to just one deity and they would touch on American culture and reform.

In American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation, Jon Meacham explores the dynamic relationship between religion and government in America in the hope that contemporary America can learn from the past. The period covered by the book spans from 1620 until Reagan’s presidency in the late 1980s. However, Meacham focuses on the Founding Fathers stances and their continued impact on American politics. More specifically, the book details the conflict over the separation of private religious expression and the more neutral ‘public religion’.

In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Santa Fe Independent School District V. Doe (SFISD V. Doe) case, Chief Justice Rehnquist commented, “It [the ruling] bristles with hostility to all things religious in public life” (“United”). Separating religion and state has always been a matter of concern for the United States, as shown by the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of our constitution. Although there have been many cases revolving around the relationship between the church and the state, SFISD V. Doe is among the most notable. By examining the background, reflecting on the decision, and analyzing the impact of the SFISD V. Doe case,

Summary: The division between church and state is a gray line that is often crossed and argued about. For example, Gwen Wilde, the author, argues that the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance requires people who do not believe in God to recite something they do not necessarily believe in. If a person chose not to say the full Pledge, including to utter the words “under God” they run the risk of being called unpatriotic. The author continually argues that the words “under God” add a religious doctrine that not all Americans believe in.

The fight for religious freedom in America is tough for people who do not participate in the religion known as Christianity. Since America is a large and culturally diverse land, the United States of America’s government has to be religiously tolerant to every belief system. Throughout America's lifespan, the subject matter “Freedom of Religion” has increasingly gained attention from the American Act. Thecitizens. In order to protect the religious liberties of American citizens the government has put into place a free exercise clause in the year of 1878, this allowed American citizens to practice religion freely in America. However, many issues have risen and promoted the creation of America's Religious Freedom Act.The largest issue surrounding religious freedom in

Even when the Constitution establishes a separation between church and state, traces of religion can still be found in public and government environments, such as the Pledge of Allegiance containing the words ‘under God’, American currency having ‘In God we trust’ and other such events and places. Consequently, this prevalence of Christian ideology violates all Americans’ first amendment right to freedom of and from religion and has a negative impact all citizens as it conflicts with their individual beliefs, religious or not.

In Rob Boston’s article titled “Myths Debunked: Religious Right Activists Love To Spread False Information About The Separation Of Church And State. Here Are Ten Rebuttals,” his purpose is to persuade the audiences that the claims of the “Religious Right” regarding the existing constitutional separation of church and state are just “myths” (pg. 9. 2015). He covers many myths, some dealing with the histories

In the 19th century, the Second Great Awakening occurred which lead the American people to change their opinion on religion. This caused a multitude of individuals to convert and change churches. Due to the refocusing of religious beliefs, it resulted in numerous realizing the flaws and defects within the country. They started believing enormous changes were needed in order for salvation. This influenced the formation of social movements such as women’s rights, temperance and the abolition of slavery and many others. The social movement would have such an impact on society that America would change as the one we know today.

The Second Great Awakening commenced with a Protestant revival movement during the early beginning around 1790, the movement gained momentum through 1820s. The later emergence of the Transcendentalists movement emerged, rooted by their religious philosophy extended from more than a protestant movement but a social and political one, linked far back in American history .Religious movements anticipated the coming of Christ and the need to change moral values. Printing inked how ordinary Americans distrusted leaders and defend the right to shape their own faith and submit to leaders of their own choosing (Hatch).Printing was the primary driver of a chain of events that would lead to Christian democratization ,and the increasing growth of Methodist , Baptist and later transcendentalist movement between Americans . The separation of church and politics stirred many issues of authority, organization and leadership, Americans had sentimental argued that their spiritual beliefs should not be morally tied into their political views using pamphlets, tracts, booklets, journals and newspapers .The early democratization of christianity changed three aspects of religion; First, it denied the class structure that set clergy as exceptional ,movements lead by men like Wesley and Asbury, empowered ordinary people by understand their spiritual state rather than subjection to

Professor Garnett argues that the approach of freedom for religion “best represents the American experiment in ‘healthy

God and religion have been a great influence from the beginning in the settling of America. Although many important setters came to America for different reasons, they all claim to be doing things in the name of their lord. Throughout America’s history, it becomes evident that power begins to shape religion which causes religion to move further away from God. Authors like Roger Williams and Samuel Sewell discuss in their literature that religious exclusivism leads to the monopolization of power and unequal treatment of men.

“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.