Essays on Church And State

Where did the idea of the American Dream first originate? Immigrants to the New World were bent on creating a new society, one that thrived on democratic principles, where they could worship freely and having equal standing in the eyes of the law regardless of their financial situation or social status. We believe these ideas to be our own, but they are not; these ideas are not uniquely American ideas. They are drawn from the beliefs of the early Protestants, specifically the ideas of separation of church and state, equality for all and hard work and integrity. The first ...

Is the Separation of Church and State in America Real?

Is the Separation of Church and State in America Real?

Introduction

The United States is supposed to be a nation in which there is a defined separation of church and state. This means that anything the provides preference of one religion over another should not be permitted in public institutions. These institutions include, public schools, federal buildings, the federal government, and the White House. However, due to machinations of numerous political parties throughout America’s history the separation of church and state is not as defined as it is supposed to be. Many Christian groups have continually fought to push ...

There has, since the writing of the constitution been a platform for the separation of church and state based on the first amendment. The first amendment specifically states that the government will not establish a religion, or prohibit the exercise of any religion. Unfortunately, what this means and how it should be applied has remained unclear. However, the original writer of that Amendment, Jefferson, reportedly stated that he hoped the Amendment could be used to build a “wall between church and state” fully separating one from the other (Hamburger 1). However, there have still been a number of cases ...

There are groups called separationists, which continuously fight for the rights and freedoms of all Americans. The members of two well-known groups come from the Americans United and Citizens United. Both of these two groups are known to have stood up to fight for religious freedom and to avail of their Constitutional rights. It is the duty of every American citizen to be able to fully grasp the importance of keeping the laws of the land free from religious intervention. Thus, it is imperative for the citizens to realize what is at stake if both the state and the ...

Introduction

The religion and politics are two mutually exclusive aspects of an individual’s life are not supposed to pragmatically overlap because they control different institutions which are structurally independent of each other. However, the religious groups are generally associated with the politically secular organizations and this bivalence in their association causes the complications of religion interfering with the political regimes. It is also true that most of the ethical considerations are driven by religious faith which cannot demarcate itself from the political realms of diplomacy and opportunism. This research paper aims at exploring various historical incidents and political scenarios ...

When considering culture, one does not typically think of law. However, if one thinks hard, they can see how law is in the background of many discussions of culture. This creates a very complex question within both modern and ancient society as to what the line has been or is between law and culture and whether law defines culture or culture defines law? This question is surely one that cannot be easily answered throughout the ages due to the aspects of both law culture that tend to go hand in hand and play off of each other. In fact, ...

Introduction

During the early centuries of Christianity, an era of official persecution of the Christians, not only was the church and state separated, but also opposed. This essay will describe the connection that prevails between church and state from the ancient times in relation to the present times. In so doing, it will show the various shifts historically and in the current world of the state having influence over religion and religion having the upper hand over the state and the current attempts to bring a separation between the two parties. This sense of antagonism can be well edified with ...

The Constitution was written and signed in 1787. It, however, entered into force in 1789. It enshrines the fundamental framework of the US system of governance. Accordingly, it establishes the Congress, Presidency and Supreme Court. Besides, it provides for the bill of rights. On the other hand, the Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 and adopted by the Congress on July 4, the same year. Accordingly, it preceded the Constitution. In a nutshell, the Declaration of Independence enunciates themes such as equality and inalienable entitlements to all citizens, the philosophy of public governance, legitimacy of ...

It is common today that people believe in different aspects when it comes to how life must be treated and spent. Some believe in sub-sects of the world’s major religions while others believe in their faiths without question. However, recent cases point out that some people would do unimaginable things just to protect their faith and the name of their prophet. Experts have noted that some religions are indeed dangerous due to the traditions they follow. Some believe that this should not be the basis in identifying the dangers of a religion. Others think that religion only becomes dangerous ...

Historically, Thomas Jefferson is most frequently portrayed as one of America’s Founding Fathers. Even in contemporary politics, segments in the United States seek to align themselves with Jeffersonian principles and wisdom. Jefferson did indeed have a lot to say about politics and principles, one of his main campaigns during his tenure as Founding Father was a vehement demand for religious liberty. In an oft quoted speech, Jefferson avowed, “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man,” a phrase engraved on his monument on the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. ...

Since its 1947 decision in Everson v. Board of Education (with an opinion written by Justice Hugo Black), the Supreme Court has further considered and limited the active role that religion or religious institutions can play in the public sphere” that is, on government property. This paper presents an argument for the position that “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.” ...

The First Amendment is perhaps the most well-known among Americans. It guarantees us all the right to free speech. It also guarantees that nobody, state official or otherwise, will stand in the way of our freedom of press, as stated by Thomas J. Curry in his book “The First Freedoms: Church and State in America and the Passage of the First Amendment” (2005). It can be argued that Nancy Jamison was exercising both of her rights protected under the First Amendment of the United States on the night that she posted these terrorist threats (2005). To prosecute her for ...

Originally the colonists came to American to get away from religious oppression. Seeking a life of their own they believed they could live more freely here, with a representative in the government in Britain. Essentially it would be like having Britain watch over them without experiencing the suffocation of Britain’s rule. While Americans still saw themselves as English, England saw the American colonies as a mere economic opportunity and refused them many of their requests. To the English, the American colonists were not as good as they were. This arrangement did not work and eventually a dispute broke out between Britain and ...

The issue of the influence of the politics on the church is one that has plagued the nation for many years. But often one is left with the question: Can the society truly separate the church and politics in the society? For centuries the political structure of countries like the United Kingdom, the monarchy had a tremendous impact the overall governance of the country. Kings had control over the religious structure of the country and this led to a number of religious factors being affected by the political restrictions. The fact is that the relationship between the State and the Church ...

Although the founding fathers were religious men, their character made them insist in constructing a nation that would defend the freedom of belief through a clear separation of church and state. They were afraid of a fusion of faith and government for many reasons. The most important is that they fought for their independency against a country where the king was the head of the church, and it was the history of European religious warfare what led to the settlement of America. Other events may have warned the founding fathers against letting any one sect have privileges over the others. As an example, ...

The oldest political party in the United States is the Democratic Party. In the late 1700s the Democratic Party was founded and their ideology reflected the belief that monarchs and aristocrats were corrupt. One of the aristocrats they had in mind was Alexander Hamilton. The Democrats viewed Hamilton’s fiscal policies as elitist and thought Hamilton was corrupt (Gerring 1998). Democrats believed in protecting the agrarian nature of the United States. To that end, they held up the nation's farmers as being examples of good men who represented virtue, freedom, and individuality. Democrats believed in states’ rights above the ...

A review of the relationship between the church and state, especially during the medieval period, gives us an insight on the tug of war that existed between the two institutions and how both tried to win over the lives of people during that period in history. Furthermore, the relationship of these two institutions gives us an idea on how to understand Western traditional of government as a whole. From the 11th to the 14th century, Europe was in an uneasy state. These were centuries marked by conflict and warfare both within the kingdoms and outside the borders that a serious effect ...

Just this year, the Saudi Arabian government has issued a ban on all non-Muslim churches in the country (Clarke 17). Not only in the construction of churches, but also the destruction of those that already stand in Saudi Arabia. The government of Saudi Arabia recognizes all its citizens as Muslims, and therefore does not believe in the need to have Christian churches or those of other religions. Those who are not of the Islamic faith are at risk of suffering from persecution as the government is very strict on their laws about religion. There are currently no official Christian ...

My name is Anthony Brown the director of American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU). ACLU is a non-profit making organization whose objective is to defend the rights which are stated in the constitution of the people in the United States. It accomplishes this objective through lawsuit, public education effort and lobbying. It draws its affiliate members in all the states. As the director of the ACLU I am responsible of setting policies and organization of fundraising. I am also responsible of the management of daily operations of the organization. From the time of my tender age I have always had ...

What justification did Iraq give for its invasion and occupation of Kuwait in August 1990?

For seven months Saddam occupied Kuwait thus resulting in the first Gulf War as US led forces worked to push the Iraqi military out of Kuwait. Many people have given different reasons as to why Saddam invaded Kuwait but it is believed that he wanted to set Iraq free from the ‘gratuitous debt’ he assumed they had accrued during the Iran – Iraq war, to reconcile the theft of their oil by ‘slant drilling’ from Kuwait and to proclaim as theirs the land he believed to rightfully belong to Iraq. Amidst all the reasons that may have led to the ...

Short Answer Questions

Briefly describe the main contentions of the Wahhabi movement and the two main ways this movement differed from other revivalist movements. The Wahhabi movement is a movement that is popular in radical, fundamentalist Islam. The movement is a subsection of Sunni Islam, although there is much contention surrounding the issue-- many people, including Islamic scholars, debate heavily about whether or not Ibn Wahhab, the theological father of the Wahhabi movement, could himself be considered a Sunni Muslim. Theologically, the Wahhabi movement differs significantly from other revivalist movements in modern Islam. Firstly, the Wahhabi movement denies the legitimacy of all texts ...

Organization

‘Wall of Separation between Church and State’ or simply referred to as ‘Separation of the Church and State’ is an expression coined by Thomas Jefferson and other associates signifying an understanding of the function and objective of the Free Exercise Clause as well as the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of United States, which restricts formation of law esteeming a foundation of religion, hindering the free implementation of religion, condensing the freedom and rights of speech, confining the practicing rights of press, obstructing the freedom to peaceably gather or restricting the appeal for governmental restoration of ...

The earliest Puritans who settled in the New World were well-organized and had specific beliefs about problems that existed in the Christian church. They did not immigrate to the New World in flight, but rather to be able to reform their faith in a style that was not yet available to them in Europe. Originally, the intent was to return to England after their political and religious views were well-established and they were firm in their faith of both realms. First, because of their dissent and disdain for the Church of England, there needed to be distance in order to ...

The concept of the secular saint is continually given meaning as part of an ongoing and wide-ranging philosophical and academic debate. The secular saint is defined by the degree to which he, or she, participates in the debate that shapes meaning and identity. To truly embody the qualities of the secular saint and live a life of meaning, it is important to maintain balance within oneself, to keep in harmony those aspects of the spiritual and secular that give one direction and purpose. By striving to maintain balance, the secular saint creates meaning in life. Some of the greatest philosophers ...

I. Short Abstract The State has the responsibility of meeting the needs of its subjects to the best of its ability. This means that the state should not give preference to some subjects over others. All the people under a given jurisdiction should be given equal opportunities regardless of their socio-economic statuses or their political affiliations. However, many developed and developing democracies have had a lot difficulties being in a position to separate matters of the State of that of the Church. Some states tend to give priorities to some religion over others. This in retrospect creates a state religion which means ...

Thomas Jefferson

After drafting the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson went on to become the first secretary of the state, the second vice president and the third president. Born on April 2nd 1743 he died on the 4th of July in 1826; perhaps a poignant day for the man who was known as America’s most distinguished “apostle of liberty.” He is associated with concepts, philosophies and institutions such as the Louisiana Purchase, the complete separation of church and state, and the University of Virginia. Jefferson, and the conflicting truths of his fiercely eloquent philosophical statements ...

Queer theory had been popular since eighties taking the place of gender theory appeared to be more primitive. The ideas of queer theory are widely implemented by those who fight for human rights and freedoms. This paper is devoted to the research of two studies, namely: Wilchins, R. Queer Theory, Gender Theory and Sycamore, M.B. “That's revolting: Queer Strategies for resisting Assimilation”. Before discussing potential flashpoints between persons with non-traditional sexual orientation (gays and lesbians), and queers let us consider similarities and differences between them. At first sight there is no difference between queers and gays/lesbians. Gay ...