John Locke's Views On Religion And Government Compared

Compare And Contrast John Locke On Religion And Government
John Locke Religion & Government
Locke theory suggests that we all can decide which religion we want to join, if any. He believes that no religion has any more rights than the other.
He also believed that no should be subject to the disadvantage due to religious convictions and that religious authorities should have no special civil
powers or authorities. According to Locke a Church is "a free and voluntary society". The purpose of Church is the worship of God. He also believes
that the value of worship depends on the faith that inspires it. Locke explains how "all the life and power of true religion consist in the inward and full
persuasion of the mind", and these matters are entirely outside the jurisdiction of the government. Toleration is the key to Locke's theory. Only
churches that teach toleration are in Locke's view. In contrast, Locke's view on atheism suggests that he was far from considering religion as
unimportant. As an empiricist, he took practical considerations into account, such ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, there is a man by the name of Bill Levin who recently filed paperwork in direct response to Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration
Act, which gave him rights to form a church called The Church of Cannabis. He calls them "cannataerians". The Secretary of State Connie
Lawson approved the church as a religious corporation with the stated intent "to start a church based on love and understanding with compassion
for all" (Bailey, 2015). This in my opinion is taking advantage of the law as well as religion. Religion is not is about a high power and the beliefs
of spiritual faith, not feeling how a person can make themselves feel. At this point I believed the government should have ruled it out as not being
religion. It is an excuse to do drugs in my opinion, because it's not being used for medical purposes and would be considered against the law.
Religions should be considered based on what religion truly
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Religious Freedom
Should the government decide which religions have freedom to worship? The balancing act of individual rights and religious liberty has been a
contentious affair throughout American history. Some people believe states must accommodate to all religions, including the rights of business owners
to refuse service based on their values. There are beliefs the government should have no influence on religions. On the other hand, some believe
government should balance religion with individual rights. Governments should not be based on religion ,but states should work to protect all religions
and give them equal advantages to succeed.
People should be able to practice what their religion preaches. If the government tells them the have to go against their values they are further
decreasing their freedom to practice what they want. "The government of the United States was created to protect the God–given rights of the people,
from our First Amendment right to free speech and religious freedom." (Bob Goodlatte) The public should have the the choice to follow what their
religion preaches, not the government. Our first amendment explicitly provides everyone religious freedom. Therefore, the government can not choose
to only protect certain religions. "Religious freedom is one thing nearly all Americans, left and right, religious and secular, have ... Show more content
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"Religion has a growing influence in the U.S. Government that is distracting lawmakers." Bans like no same sex or mixed raced marriage and
outlawing abortion are all based on religious teachings. People disagree with same sex marriage because it says it is not allowed in the bible.
Passing laws like these add to the others going against their beliefs. If a religion doesn't believe in same sex marriage, that religion doesn't have to
participate. It's not the government's place to make the decision for every

Religion Should Not Influence Government Essay example
Religion should not Influence Government Research Paper
Religion should not Influence Government If you woke up tomorrow and found yourself part of a minority group that was treated like a second class
citizens and denied civil rights how would you feel? Every day in the United States minority groups are denied basic rights that ever other U.S. citizen
is grated. These rights are determined by the United States government that is influenced by religious beliefs, even though our country was founded
with the belief of separation of church and state.
Proposition 8 Violates the separation of church and state. In the state of California Proposition 8 passed. Proposition 8 would deny gays the right to
marry, a civil right that is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Doma or The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996 in efforts to stop same–sex marriages in fear of the debate in Hawaii. Doma this labeled
gays as immoral, perverse, depraved, and an attack on God's principles. Congress passed Doma defining marriage as between a women and a man
for the first time in history (Stone, 2012). Congress was clearly influenced by religious beliefs in passing Doma, which makes this
unconstitutional. The United states government provides many benefits to married couples such as federal employees are entitled to medical
coverage, the spouse of an individual covered by Social Security is eligible for retirement and survivor benefits, and married couples who file joint
tax returns usually pay considerably lower federal income taxes than individuals who file separately (Stone, 2012 p.1). However, gay couples are
refused these rights under law. Gay couples are denied many rights making them second class in the eyes of the government. If the partner of a gay
couple was to be hospitalized the other can be denied rights to see them because they are not considered family. If the partner was to pass away the
family can come in and make all the decisions even though it might be against the wishes of the deceased. The family can then take everything away
from the surviving partner that dedicated their life and love to. The

Religion-Based Government Vs Secular One
So now we raise the question, what differentiates a religion–based government versus a secular one? In order to understand this question we must first
take into account that there are no universally accepted guidelines for what constitutes a religion. However, there tend to be designated behaviors that
are synonymous with religion such as specific practices, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, ethics, organizations, and the aspects that tend to be on the
unquantifiable side such as supernatural, transcendental, or any spiritual elements. Taking these general standards into consideration, we can compare
it with the definition of what a secular society entails. One manifestation of secularism is "asserting the right to be free from religious

Life Of Chin Ancient Chinese Religion, Government And...
Life in China: From Shang to Han
From the ancient Chinese's advanced religion, government and treatment of one another, we can derive many lessons to apply to our lives today. Some
of these lessons include: firstly, when the government demonstrates its support to the working middle class through benefits, the country is
strengthened by the middle class' new allegiance, expanded borders, its new ability to provide itself with an education, and its opportunity to be apart
of the government and ensure equality through even representation. Secondly, a country whose belief system about gods and ancestors is accessible to
every person benefits the social structure, motivation morale than an institutionalized religion provided. Lastly, when ... Show more content on
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The warring states period show us the value of the people's devotion to the king, and how easily it could be attained. During this period, farmers felt
that the nobles were their providers and protectors because they gifted them with extra food. This feeling led to the peasants having allegiance to the
nobles, instead of to their king. Because of this feeling of allegiance, the farmers fought on behalf of the nobles to help them conquer more land. Had
the king portrayed himself as magnanimous by gifting extra food or lower taxes to the middle class, the entire nation would have been willing to fight
on behalf of the king. With the combined force of all the people, gained through rewards and bonuses, China would have been able to considerably
expand its borders.
It is not enough for a ruler to value the farmers in speech; he must show his appreciation in a tangible way that benefits the people. Shi Huangdi of the
Qin dynasty imposed harsh taxes on all its citizens, and peasant farmers were no exception. He applied his legalist values of efficiency and utility to
the nation as a whole to his show of appreciation of the farmers. In theory, Shi Huangdi valued the work of farmers because they provided necessary
food for the country. In practice, however, he never demonstrated it because the reward would not have been seen as

Confucian Values In Traditional Religion : Religion And...
Religion and traditional government were intertwined which meant that all State matters had a religious influence while at the same time politics had
a considerable control over the religious practices. These religious practices that were based on Confucian values had an underlying belief that
Heaven provided the political power and that the political decisions came from Heaven. Sacrifice to Heaven is one of the three that were directly
related the Confucian values. The other two that will be discussed later include sacrifice to ancestors and sacrifice to Confucius. It is important to note
that the three sacrifices were the pillars of the traditional government. Heaven formed an important aspect that determined the structure of the
universe and all the people living in the universe. It was seen as an essential force that was responsible for the proper functioning of religious
activities, political matters, the moral conduct of people and in general the daily their lives. In ancient China, heaven was used in a spiritual
perspective and hence the reason for the great influence that religion exerted in political systems. Spiritual matters were viewed to be the driver of
everything that happened in the universe and hence sacrifice to Heaven was taken very seriously by the people. The ceremony associated with the
sacrifice to heaven was performed with great care according to the writings in the Confucian classics.
Sacrifice to Heaven was performed for different reasons

Church And State Interaction Between Religion And...
Church and State
Interaction between religion and government has a reality for most civilizations since the beginning of recorded history. This narrative has its place in
the Judeo–Christian history as well. The Hebrew Bible speaks of a theocracy and contains reminders to a captive people that their national failing was
their religious failing. In the time that Jesus was walking around the Judean countryside, tensions between Jews and Romans were high. While it would
be easy to say that the death of Christianity's namesake at the hands of the Roman government set the tone for interactions between Christianity and
government entities moving forward, the actual interactions between those agencies has been far more varied, far more dynamic than static. Christians
at various points have sought to both distance themselves from or cozy up next to the powers at be, and often backed up these claims with what they
saw as biblical mandate. It is clear that 4th Century historian Eusebius saw the Roman Empire 's decision to give favor and then preference to
Christianity. However, this adoption of the Church by the empire must have caused mixed feelings for Eusebius, who had just a few years before lost
his mentor Pamphilus to martyrdom by the very same empire. Eusebius' own experience shows just how complex life for Christians in the Roman
empire during the early Fourth Century would have been as they celebrated no longer having to fear persecution, but also came to understand that

Religion And Government Should Be Kept Separated From...
Religion and Government
The notion of whether or not politics should be kept separated from religion is one of the highly controversial issues in today's world. Already, while
religion is mostly ignored as a significant political influence, it still plays an essential role in international and domestic politics. In a society where
religion and politics go hand in hand, most of the people, explicitly politicians, have some kind of faith that they believe in and that guides them to
make critical decisions, thus it is impossible to have a true separation of church and state. But, what I am trying to suggest is that currently, Americans
support a system in which political decisions are made based upon valid arguments that stand on their own. These decisions do not require religious
support. Government and religion should be kept separated because the overt relationship between religion and government can inhibit freedom of
conscience and its extreme form can lead to violence and oppression. Firstly, the legal establishment of religion in the United States can corrupt religion
to inhibit freedom of awareness. Our founding fathers created the U.S Constitution that had in its very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law,
a Constitution that promises its people liberty and justice (Obama 461). Later, these ideas were incorporated in the Declaration of Independence's
preamble. The Declaration argues that human rights are given by God. Though, protection of these human

How Did The Igbo Religion Influence The Government?
In Things Fall Apart, religion is a strong influence over government. Before the missionaries arrived, all of the rules and superstitions in the village
were made in correlation with the Igbo culture. Their multiple gods all serve different purposes and influence their lifestyle in different ways. When the
missionaries arrived, they tried to take control, denying the Igbo culture and religion. With the introduction of Christianity in Things Fall Apart, the
missionaries not only tear down Igbo culture, but also replace the government with one of their own.
Before the arrival of the missionaries, the Ibo religion was highly significant to the government and its people. "While many countries have adopted a
system of the separation of church and state, the Ibo people base their governance on the gods," (Vees). With their religion having... Show more content
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"But stories were already gaining around that the white man had not only brought a religion but also a government. It was said that they had built a
place of judgement in Umuofia to protect the followers," (Achebe 155). As the quote states, the missionaries created a government in order to protect
their religion and followers. They created tons of rules and punishments to maintain order, including hanging people who kill missionaries. Though it
was rumored that the missionaries had built a government, the villagers didn't think much of it as they weren't very affected by it at first. It was when
Okonkwo suggested throwing out the Christians that the villagers agreed to ban them. Later in the book, Mr. Brown discusses the differences in the
two religions and they come to an agreement to build a school. Even though an agreement was settled, the missionaries were still forcing the villager's
kids to come to this school to be converted. In the end, they still managed to take even the slightest bit of control in the

Religion Vs Government
Since the beginning of time religion has always been a very influential part in peoples' day to day lives. In some religions, you live your life based on
the rules or guidelines in order to become the best follower you possibly can be. Also, in multiple religions, people very much appreciate and look up
to a religious leader for guidance in their faith and lives instead of government which, is also very important to a lot of people. Many people believe
that their government is the absolute superlative power there should be, and that the government should be the ones to make the final verdict. The
question is; can religious leaders and government leaders ever work together to improve a country and its living standards? The answer is that the ...
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In 1636 Roger Williams was banned from Massachusetts Bay for his religious beliefs. He later on went to find the colony of Rhode Island and all
religions were welcomed. If the church had been separate from the government, Roger Williams wouldn't have been banned from Massachusetts
Bay. In this instance it comes to show how church and state cannot come together to solve problems or lead a successful nation. Secondly, in
schools is where church and state needs to be kept separate the most. Children go to school to learn facts, and then be able to make their own
opinions based on what they have learned. It is not right to force religion on someone who doesn't know what they truly believe in yet. Religion in
schools is also very controversial because of the amount of different beliefs there are in religions. There is no possible way that a school board can
accommodate to all of them without someone becoming offended. Finally, secular states end up thriving better as a nation because they are able to be
nonbiased and accommodate to all people without the fear of being punished based on their

Essay on Jamaica: History, Government, People, Religion
Jamaica: History, Government, People, Religion
Jamaica is a tropical island, located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Around the coastlines are beautiful beaches with crystal clear blue–green water.
In some respects, this is the majority of what people know about Jamaica. In this orientation text you will better understand Jamaica's history, the people
who live there, the many different religions, geography, and governments that have ruled the land.
The land of Jamaica is very small. The total land mass area of the island is 4,243 square miles. Stretching 146 miles from east to west and at its furthest
points north to south, approximately 51 miles (Encyclopedia Americana, 2001, P 670). Within this area, the land is ... Show more content on
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By the early 18th century, with the peace treaty in place, Jamaica began to build vast amounts of sugar plantations. Sugar became the main export to
England. Second, and not far behind, was slave trade. Jamaica's location in the heart of the Caribbean Sea made it an ideal port for harboring slaves
until they were needed to sell. This enabled Jamaica to be one of the British crown's most lucrative assets (Encyclopedia Americana, 2001, P 673).
Things changed with the British Parliament's abolishment of the slave trade in 1833. Freed slaves became independent farmers or employees of
surviving sugar plantations. The government also changed from an elected British assembly to a governor–controlled crown colony enacted in 1866 and
run for 75 years. During this political change, sugar industry slowed and the emergence of the banana industry became Jamaica's main export
(Encyclopedia Americana, 2001, P 673). Jamaica formed a two party system in its changes. The People's National Party (PNP) and Jamaican Labor
Party (JLP) would alternate rule for the 40 years. In 1953, Jamaica inaugurated a ministerial system of government. Within this system the Federation of
the West Indies was created in 1958, with Jamaica as its largest member. Jamaica's true independence came four years later with its withdrawal from the
federation.
The people of Jamaica consist of 90% black African descent. (Academic American

The United States And Religious Neutrality
In the United States, religious neutrality appears throughout society as an attempt to respect majority and minority religions, which seems implausible
due to the complicated relationship between religion and government. When the government makes legal decisions involving religion, the ideal of
neutrality seemingly dissipates when one faith appears to garner more respect over another in earning the majority decision in the Courts. This
impossibility of state neutrality is apparent when balancing citizens' freedom to practice their religion with the government choosing one religious
value over another. This idea of balance originates in the First Amendment to theUnited States Constitution which declares, "Congress shall make no
law ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Through further analysis, the complexities of religious neutrality and the attempts to represent minority and majority religions will be discussed. An
example of the complications involving religious neutrality, and the difficulties that emanate from trying to respect all representations of religion arise
in the Chino Valley school board case. School board president, Andrew Cruz became known for, "opening board meetings with an invocation prayer,
but also discussing religion and reading from the Bible throughout the meetings," (Yarbrough). In the Chino Valley case, the display of explicitly
Christian messages and scriptures provided grounds for the atheist group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, to sue for violating the United States,
and the California Constitution. The issue of neutrality arises in the decision–making of the Court. If the Court rules for the Freedom From Religion
Foundation and agrees that the appearance of the explicitly Christian material has no place in a school board meeting, Cruz and his like–minded
believers may feel that their right to practice religion has been infringed upon. However, if the court rules for Cruz, those who identify themselves as
being in the minority of religious groups may feel that the Court has respected the majority religion over theirs, thereby ignoring their

What Part Should Government Have In Regulating Religion?
You've been learning that rulers in the 1500s determined the religion of their subjects. What part should government have in regulating religion today?
Support your answer. (Some students who live outside the United States may have different perspectives on this topic based on their experiences.)
The rulers of the 16th century were allowed to choose their country's religion. Some lands became Catholic while others became a form of Protestantism
, like Lutheranism. Whether Catholic or Protestant, the leaders forced their subjects to convert or be branded as heretics thereby facing death or
banishment.
There are two reasons that I do not believe that the government should have a part in regulating religion. Firstly, a government that both

Ancient Egypt : Complex Government And Complex Religions
They first started off as hunters and gathers. Then they started to build homes and plant food. They ended Staying in one place instead of traveling.
Then their they ended up making the 7 indicators.
Well organized government. Every complex religion has to have a well–organized government. In Egypt, there are many important governments. In
Egypt, the pharaoh was the ruler. An example is that the pharaoh controlled all the people. Like if he wanted more power he can make a war.
Another example is that he would collect taxes and raise the taxes. There were many visors but the first one was important. The first ever visor
was Imhotep. He was the leader of the government. The visor was the chief overseer of the land, kind of like a prime minister. The pharaoh did
everything in Egypt. In Egypt the pharaoh collected taxes gave taxes, he even demanded where the slaves would work. The slaves couldn't do
anything or else they be faced with punishes. The pharaoh also owned all the land in Egypt. Complex religion. Ancient Egypt had a complex religion.
They had many gods and goddess. In Egypt, they have different gods and beliefs. The Egyptians had many gods that they worshiped. Some of the
gods that they delivered it ways Ra, Isis, Osiris, Horus, Thoth. Ra was the goddess of sun she created life forms. Isis is the mother goddess. She
protected people in need. Osiris is the ruler of the underworld. He is the husband of Isis and the father of Horus. Another god was Horus. He was the

Socrates Plato Aristotle and Immanuel Kant Views on...
We are taught at a very young age that we are to seek out happiness, yet no one really knows what that is. When you are a child, happiness could be
found by playing with toys, and schoolmates. When we are children, our concept of happiness is minimal. As years passed, our concept of
happiness becomes much more expansive. We are schooled to think that if we succeed at something, whether it is at a career, college or in
relationships, we are seeking to be happy. Some people seek out happiness through religion, or a spiritual leader, "Who so trusteth in the Lord is
happy" (Proverbs 4:7). It seems that everyone has their own idea as to what makes them happy. It becomes ingrained in us that seeking happiness is the
point of our existence. To... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
His discussions of God and religion represent a measure of the evolution of his philosophical worldview. This began with his pre–critical advocacy of
the rationalism in which he was educated. Then this got subjected to the systematic critique that would open the doors to his unique critical treatment
(Pomerleau 2011). Finally, at the end of his life, he seemed to experiment with a more radical approach. As we follow the trajectory of this
development, we see Kant moving from confidently advocating a demonstrative argument for the God of metaphysics to denying all theoretical
knowledge of a theological sort, to affirming a moral argument establishing religious belief as rational, to suspicions regarding religion divorced from
morality, and finally to hints of an idea of God so identified with moral duty as to be immanent rather than transcendent (Pomerleau 2011). In
government, Plato's view is dedicated to understanding justice and virtue, and how this would relate to who would rule. Most men are only concerned
with ends and consequences and are generally unjust, only a few are virtuous enough to lead the city. But justice and virtue alone are not enough. The
guardians those who rule must be physically strong, lovers of wisdom and knowledge and impervious to outside experience (Plato 46–51). The
guardians also lived by a separate set of rules. They would own no private property, live in a camp to themselves and protect the city from intruders.
Plato also

Separation Of Church And State Essay
Religion: The Separation of Church and State
Religion should not be the deciding vote in government situations. The Separation of Church and State gives freedom for the first amendment. The
first amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Having Prayer or a moment of silence in schools and before sporting events can cause discomfort to others. Religion should be separate from the
government because there are many different religions, beliefs and conflicts. because Handling business because God told you to do it this way may
not be fair to others who believe differently than you., The government should be neutral and not be swayed by one or more persons religious beliefs. ,
and if Religion is separate from the government it reduces the potential for violence.
In the pre–colonial times, John Winthrop 1588–1649 writes about the "Model of Christian Charity" were it states: God Almighty in His most holy and
wise providence ...as in all times some must be rich, some poor, and some high and eminent power and dignity; others ... Show more content on
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The Separation of Church and State gives freedom for the first amendment. Having Prayer or a moment of silence in schools and before sporting
events can cause discomfort to others. While there isn't a right or wrong religion or non–religion the government should follow the guidelines of the
state. Religion should be separate from the government because there are many different religions, beliefs and conflicts. The world has many
problems to solve and this is just a small but important part. Regardless of religion we should do what is right for the

Thomas Paine The Relationship Between Religion And...
The relationship between religion and government is very simple; there is no relationship. This opinion is shared by the well–known political activist
known as Thomas Paine. In his pamphlet "Common Sense," Paine uses this as a medium to convey his opinions about American
Independence, therefore, bringing up the relevance of religion in a governmental setting. According to Thomas Paine, there was no reason for religion to
be in government, which means that the religion of a person should not affect the decision made in any type of governmental setting. Paine uses this to
introduce the fact that the British Monarchy has too much power, as it was well–known that the British Monarch had abused his powers over the
church to further his control over his subjects (642–644). This suggests that if ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It also brings in the chance of punishment from the government if a person does not follow the rules that the government has made that could
potentially go against the beliefs of a person. An example of this would be the persecution that the pilgrims faced before leaving Britain, as they were
punished because they did not have the same beliefs as the church and the government. This further proves his point that the inclusion of religion in
government could potentially be dangerous, as the British Monarch was simply a man. A man with many complex emotions and unpredictable
responses to those who disagree with him and his laws. The fact that many fled from Britain to gain religious freedom while it was under his control
helps maintain the image that it is simply not healthy to be situated in a government that is controlled by religious leaders. Everything that has
happened to the colonies so far, was because they were under a leader's rule that did not fit them: it simply did not coincide with their religious and
moral beliefs. Due to their past with a religious government, it would be easy to

Comparing The Government, Religion, Geography, And Economy...
AP United States History
Summer Reading Assignment
Chapter 3:
Q1: Compare and contrast the government, religion, geography, and economy of the three English colonial regions (the Chesapeake area, New
England, and Pennsylvania). Be sure to consider the role of race, gender, and ethnicity.
A1: Though the three English colonial regions–the Chesapeake area, New England, and Pennsylvania–were all relatively close to each other, there
were stark differences between them. To begin with, they all had very differentgovernment structures. In the Chesapeake area, the government
closely resembled that of England where power resided in one individual. In England there was a king while in Maryland, there was a royal governor.
In both cases, the ruling individual had control over all branches of the government; however, the successor of the first governor in Maryland soon
realized that colonists would not enjoy fewer liberties in the colonies than at home. Hence, Cecilius Calvert gave up their rights to initiate all colonial
laws and shifted power to the people by governing by their advice and with consent. On the other hand, in New England, government was theocratic in
nature where church and state were synonymous and where power resided in the leaders of the church. In addition, the Pennsylvanians had a much
more democratic government structure where there was a proprietor and a legislative assembly that gave the people the right to appoint government
officials–one of many rights that

Religion Is A Form Of Government
"Democracy is a form of government, where a constitution guarantees basic personal and political rights, fair and free elections, and independent
courts of law." (Democracy 2004). Religion and politics have been long viewed as partners for many and yet some find the relationship a struggle.
Religion usually pertains to an individual or a community of like minded members in the private sector. An example of such a body of individuals
includes church or social organizations. As part of Western civilization, Americans typically embraced the separation of church and state as they
believe that religion has no place in politics at all. Politics usually apply to the public sector where individuals serve as members of a wider community
such as ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
How do they impact each other?
According to Wikipedia 2014, "Religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of
existence. It is also the most intensive and comprehensive method of valuing that is experienced by humankind". Religion is often difficult to identify
or define because it overlaps on many different boundaries in human experience. This complex phenomenon has led many theorists to attempt to form
a cohesive definition, however, every theory has its limitations thus making this task utterly impossible to complete. Religion can also resolve matters
on the private and public sector such as issues regarding life and death, love and sex, authority and freedom. Although religious traditions often
challenge each other, they also offer individuals with a sense of security and direction. It can also dictate those who are in power versus those who are
not, and often provides validation for imbalances in social, economic, and political power, as well as structure for advancement and revolutionary
change.
According to Fairlax 2014, "Politics is the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and
the administration and control of its internal and external affairs", the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to

Religion in Government Essay
"The laws of Nature are the laws of God, whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth"–George Mason 1772(Founding Fathers 2). The
presence of God is in every part of America. The Christian religion was brought to American shores by nearly all who immigrated to the United
States. The American nation was built on the principles of "one nation under God" and now people want to erase Him from everything. 'I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice
for all'. By stating allegiance to the flag allegiance is given to country; a country founded on Christian principles and a belief in God. The words "one
nation under God" ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We hold these truths to be self–evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, which
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."(Does the Declaration 1). The Declaration itself uses God as a reference point under
which the United States principles were founded on. The United States of America was founded on Christian ideas. Originally the Pledge of
Allegiance did not carry the words "under God". "The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the
republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with
the most recent change adding the words "under God" in 1954" (Wikipedia). Additions to any thing are always made to make things better. No one
makes an addition to something so important that it is stated everyday at every school, before every sports event, even before some ceremonies with
the intent of defiling it; they make an addition only to perfect and complete it.
It is a major controversy about religion in government, separation of church and state, but to erase God from all public things is as much of a disgrace,
if not more, as erasing George Washington or Abraham

Religion In Colonial America
Religion played a key role in colonial America and caused a great deal of conflict and confusion among the colonist. There were religions in the New
World that did not tolerate each other. Some people, like the Quakers, wanted religious freedom from the Puritans. Some people believed in strange
superstitions that alienated non–believers. Some people believed government and religion should be the same although government eventually became
separated from religion. If the New World in the colonies was to be successful for the most people, the conflict between the many religions would have
to be addressed. Many religions in the New World did not tolerate each other for many reasons. These religions consisted of Puritans, Quakers,
Anglicans, Lutherans, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One main goal for the new nation was to have freedom of religion. In order for this to be possible, government and religion had to be separated so that
there was no official religion. Otherwise they feared that the one dominant religion ruling the government would outlaw any other religion from being
practiced (Religious beliefs in colonial times, page 80). The US Constitution prohibits the government from favoring one religion over another.
(Constitution of United States of America). The Founding Fathers wanted to have a new system of government. Separating government and religion
was part of this system. (A Plea of Religious Liberty). The Final cause for the separation of government and religion was for the people's benefit. Many
people were tired of having religions in charge of governments and the Founding Fathers knew this. (http://undergod.procon.org
/view.answers.php?questionID=001358). This is why the United States government is not controlled by any religion. Religious conflict in the colonies
was addressed in many ways. The religions in the New World eventually learned to accept each other. Puritans gave Quakers religious freedom. People's
were superstitions were less threatening if they were not part of an official religion. Although some people wanted government and religion to be
combined, the Founding Fathers detached government and religion. Religious conflict

Declaration Of Independence, And Thomas Jefferson's Letter...
The United States Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802, are all important
documents in our nation's history and religion. These historical documents were the biggest influence in our country and they continue to shape our
powerful nation. In comparing these documents, I will decipher the differences between what the signers of the Declaration of Independence and what
the U.S. Constitution thought about the separation of the church and state.
The Declaration of Independence was the first document to be adopted by the founding fathers in 1776. Its main purpose was to separate from the
British Monarchy. The colonists knew this would be a clear step towards a new form of practicing self–government. The form in which the colonist
decided to move towards was a Democracy. Which was shown in the U.S Constitution. This meant that everyone would have a part in the new
government system unlike the British where one had little to no say. With this declaration, the 13 Colonies became theUnited States of America. ...
After declaring independence from the British monarchy, the colonist believed they should set the new form of government on paper. With the failure
of the first constitution, Articles of Confederation brought together James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and many
more to contribute to the new form in which the new country would operate. The founding fathers understood that if they had too much nation
government it could lead to the same form of government the British had

How Did Religion And Government Take Political Power In...
In the United States, religion and government have been separated from one another for many years. The reason being is that there are so many
religions these days, and people would argue about which religion would take political power, ultimately resulting in conflicts and fights. Many
centuries ago, each country had only one primary religion which every citizen practiced. In Italy for example, their official religion was Christianity,
and having Christian beliefs intertwined in government allowed Italians to follow their religions rules along with the rules the government has as well.
While some people may think that having religion and government together would be a good thing, many citizens living in Europe between the 12th
and 16th century did not.
Starting in the 12th century, many European countries like Italy were starting to give the pope a lot of power. This resulted in the popes becoming
more powerful figures than most of the European counties princes. One example of this was with pope Gregory VII. He believed that he was one of
the most ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the Freedom of a Christian, author and reformist Martin Luther said "Many people have considered Christian faith an easy thing, and not a few have
given it a place among the virtues". Luther says this because he understands that many people were not found of Christianity, they went to church to
show god they are dedicated to come, and that was it. Most people never practiced Christianity outside of the church and that upset Luther. By
separating from Christianity and joining a new religion, Luther had the hopes that people would embrace religion again and participate in it throughout
their daily lives, not just at church. With a religion focused just on gaining power and with a following from people who dislike the religion, it makes
sense that the reformation era to separate church from government started to

Religion And Government In The Handmaid's Tale
George Orwell once said, "Who controls the past controls the future who controls the present controls the past." In this quotation, Orwell brings
about an important interpretation about a dystopian society. Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, reveals the true identity of religion and
government that leads to manipulating the society of Gilead through the allusions of the bible, the symbolism of Gilead, and gow the narrator's tone
influences a negative way of Gilead. Religion is the idea of living through the words of the bible and of how it should dictate society. For instance,
Atwood added a verse from the bible stating, "And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob,
Give me children, or else I die[...]" (Genesis 30:1–3). This verse is important on how Gilead's government created roles for women and having the
Handmaid's into a childless marriage to create a babies. Following the words of the bible, the lives of both women and men are jeopardize by any
mistake of that both gender roles commit. The narrator describes the Salvagings when she says, " This is a district... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
In the novel, Aunt Lydia believes that Gilead is a perfect society, "The Republic of Gilead,said Aunt Lydia,knows no bounds.Gilead is within
you"(Atwood 23). In Gilead it becomes within you, not just a place where you live. The republic of Gilead will make the choices for all, the
outcome will be the full control of you. For example, when Offred and Ofglen were walking through the sidewalk of the street, some tourists from
Japan approached to them and said, " Are they happy? How can they be happy?[...] 'Yes, we are very happy'" (Atwood 29). She uses an unbelievable
tone in her response trying to convince the tourists that everything is fine. The tone of the narrator demonstrates the way of living is critical by the
laws that were

The True Meaning of Separation of Church and StateвЂ™ by...
Introduction Religion has always been a topic that makes people uncomfortable, it has sparked wars, legal cases and arguments. This is a controversial
issue that reigns havoc in many countries and because of this American citizens are afforded religious freedom through the US constitution. The goal of
the United States government has never been to make our nation irreligious but to uphold the values of religious freedom. In the 2011 article 'The True
Meaning of Separation of Church and State' by Bill Flax, "Faith is no civil contract, but a personal matter not to be profaned by politics." These are the
exact intentions of the US Constitution and the federal government. The goal is to allow citizens religious freedom that is uninhibited ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
As American citizens we look to the law of the land, the US Constitution, which is our guiding light to make quality moral decisions as a nation. The
foundation of the US Constitution is freedom and protection of the rights of its citizens. The beginning of the constitution starts with insuring domestic
tranquility, promote welfare, and secure blessings of liberty (KSS, pg 210, n.d.). These are powerful statements that serve as the basis for making
common law decisions for centuries to protect the freedoms of citizens. Securing blessings of liberty means the federal government will make no laws
that influence one religion over another. The constitution was written in 1787 and in 1789 the bill of rights were ratified. The first amendment
specifically states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." (KSS, pg 199, n.d.).
When the constitution was written it was reticent about religion because many of the delegates were committed federalists (Library of Congress, n.d.).
It was the belief that the power to make laws on religion reside with the state and not the national government. Another reason for the first amendment
is because delegates foresaw the tactical mistake of introducing such politically controversial issues into the constitution.

Seperation of Government and Religion Essay
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 ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We are supposed to be the motherland of tolerance and freedom of differences. In America there are approximately 67 million Roman Catholics; 16
million Protestants; five million Mormons; and five million and a quarter non–Christians (Clausen, 2007). This is a small indication of the differences
that America inspires. It shows some of the different religions in our country and that religion shouldn't be pushed on others. There isn't a way for the
government and faith groups to be intertwined in a way that will respect the abundance of religions in America. The only way I see to accomplish that
is to separate it as we have been doing. Our society cannot respect all religions if there is only one that the government follows and includes within
their decisions. The separation is a statement that religions are equal in the eyes of our countries leaders and our government.
It is claimed that religion possess equal validity. As stated by Bellah "if the primary contribution of religion to society is through the character and
conduct of citizens, any religion, large or small, familiar or strange, can be of equal value to one another (Clausen, 2007). To me, this quote means that
it shouldn't matter what religion our neighbors and fellow citizens practice but rather how we conduct ourselves and treat others. We need to respect
one another's beliefs and thoughts. To be

Why did the governments of the interregnum fail to find an...
The governments of the interregnum failed to find an acceptable settlement predominantly due the power vacuum which was left by the King when he
was executed. This wasn't helped by the lack of legitimacy of the regicide where only 59 MP's signed Charles' death warrant. However one could
argue that Oliver Cromwell, Parliament and The New Model Army's want and desire for more power also led to the failure to find an acceptable
settlement.
After Charles was executed several political problems arose because there was no direction of settlement due to the degree and nature of the reform.
As a result of this, two sides formed, the army who were religious radicals and parliament, who were after a conservative settlement. The result of the ...
For example, the military wanted a radical religious reform, led by John Lambert, whereas the civilians (or parliament) wanted a more moderate,
parliament endorsed regime, led by figures such as Lord Broghill. Therefore, Cromwell was a major source of division and was said to be an
"ideological schizophrenic" (Worden). Furthermore "division was made worse by Oliver Cromwell" (Worden) which is seen with the fluctuation of
Cromwell's views between 1649–58, beginning with the dissolution of the Rump Parliament, because he favoured the Nominated Assembly, devised by
fifth–monarchist Thomas Harrison, however the Assembly was named the Barebones Parliament. Despite Cromwell initially siding with a "Godly
rule" (Smith), he reverted back to the regime to protect tradition, helped by Lambert who ended the Barebones Parliament due to the fear of the
increasing power of religious radicals. Therefore, it was the indecisive nature of Oliver Cromwell that led to the failure in attempting to create an
acceptable settlement in politics and religion.
Religious radicalism was fundamentally linked politics. Following Civil War in 1642, religious radicalism evolved due to the collapse of censorship
and the Church of England which brought social upheaval across England, making it increasingly difficult for Cromwell to achieve an acceptable
settlement. The less influential groups amongst society were the Diggers and Fifth Monarchists who believed that

Religion Vs Government
The American government. You trust them with your money and you rely on them to protect you when things go south, right? If you know any basic
knowledge of the American system of control, then you should know that they aren't all they're cracked up to be. The government is extremely
corrupted, filled with power–hungry parasites, sucking up all of your rights and money. The authority uses tons of things to their benefit, like for
example, religion.(specifically Christianity) 76.5% of the U.S population are religious, 70.6% of them are some type of Christian, and only 22.8% are
unaffiliated to religion. The bureaucracy has many ways of using religion to gain control over society, and most often it's not cordial, or even close to
it. The U.S... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
You see, there are a crap ton of things we don't know that the authority does and therefore, they don't want us to know. Things like religion or the recent
Las Vegas concert shooting are used to distract society from what thegovernment is actually doing. If you really think that the shooting was purely
just one person's intention then you are falling for their trap. The government was surely involved in this act, why else is the supposed shooter
found dead by suicide, and therefore since the suspect is dead, we don't know the intentions of the shooting. The government has been making us
blind to the truth for hundreds of years and has been using religion to do that for the same amount of time. On September 17, 1787, when the
constitution was signed and still to this date, out of the 4,543 words that make up the constitution, none include "God", "bible", "Jesus", or
"Christianity". If this is so, then why is authority so religion based today? Religion is everywhere whether you like it or not, the bureaucracy plasters
it anywhere and everywhere to get it through your head that "You should believe in our god" and "obey our rules by believing and having faith". We
even have the quote, "In God We Trust" on our currency. "Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law"–Thomas Jefferson. Thomas
Jefferson, a Founding Father of America, had said that religion is,

Linking State and Private Religion to Government
Ancient Egyptian Religion Topic: What are the similarities and differences between state religion and private religion? How is state religion linked the
government? The Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus wrote in his Histories that ancient Egyptians were "religious excessively beyond all
other men". This comment, although perhaps biased by his Greek perspective, illuminates for modern man the importance of religion in the everyday
lives of ancient Egyptian peoples. Religion, in the form of devotion, prayers and offerings, was considered essential to maintaining a happy, healthy
life. This devotion could take one of two distinct shapes: state–wide religious worship, or personal, popular worship. Each of these forms of worship is
similar but distinctive, and both are a good example of how ancient Egyptian theology was distinct from any other theological system in the ancient
world. Ancient Egyptian religion was unique: several scholars have noted that there was no other religion like it in all of history.1 The combination of
deities, mythology and attached ritual activities were created and built upon over centuries, and so it is a very complex theological structure. The
religion itself was polytheistic (meaning that many gods were worshipped simultaneously), although at times in Egypt's history, and depending on the
governmental ruler, we have evidence of henotheism (focus on one god, but not excluding others).2 In order to add to the mystery of their

Voltaire 's Views Toward English And French Religion,...
Voltaire's Views Toward English & French Religion, Government, and Scientific Advancements
After 1688, England became a constitutional monarchy under the rule of Mary and William. English society evolved from embracing the absolute
monarchy to one that introduces new thought processes and beliefs. In Voltaire's Letters onEngland, he contributes the development of England to its
respectable regards toward religion, governmental systems, and scientific advancements. He contrasts these practices with those of the less respectable
Frenchmen, and reveals the different outcomes of the two nations. Following the Reformation, there was a great division within the Church between
the Catholics and Protestants. This tension was eased during the reign of Queen Elizabeth with the passing of the Act of Supremacy in 1559, which
created the Church of England and consequently the Anglican Church. Eventually Anglicanism became known as the "New Catholicism". While the
pope was no longer recognized, bishops, and many aspects of medieval heritage was retained under the Anglican Church. It was highly supported by
many elites due to its powerful expression of culture. In Voltaire's letters, he acknowledges that even though everyone is allowed to practice their own
religion, the "true religion that in which a man makes his fortune" is the Church of England. It was very difficult for people to obtain jobs in England
and Ireland unless they were proclaimed followers. This especially depicted

Plato, The Matrix: Government, Religion, And The Government
Jonelle Villarreal
Professor Carter
English 1302.714
8 February 2017
Plato and the Matrix
Social media, government, technology, religion, and so on hold us down. We the people are like the prisoners chained up in The Allegory of the
Cave and the government, social media, technology, and religion play the shadows and puppeteers. They control our life in everything we do and
how we act, unless we break free and walk out of the cave. Once we have been freed from the government, social media, and etc., than we will finally
see the truth. For example, if we were to attend a Christian church, we would hear the priest preach about the absolute truth. We see examples of what
living a good life is, what someone should wear, and how someone should speak.

Free Exercise Clause
The Founding Fathers firmly believed that their new nation should have freedom of religion since it is something that the United States should be
founded on. They clearly believed that it was important to protect freedom of religion because it was included in the Constitution under the First and
Fourteenth Amendment. The Constitution and the Amendments are not the only things to prove that the Founders wanted to protect freedom ofreligion.
The Free–Exercise and the Establishment Clause from the first amendment both deal with religion but the Free Exercise Clause deals with the belief of
an action and the Establishment Clause deals with religion/nonreligion.
Freedom of religion is protected in the constitution and amendments because it's an important right for all people to have. In the United States, freedom
of religion is a constitutionally protected right provided in the religion clauses of the First Amendment, "Freedom of speech, press, assembly, and
religion" which allows you to practice any religion as long as it doesn't infringe on other people's rights. The Fourteenth Amendment ... Show more
For example, the government is not allowed to get involved if an issue assists in promoting or discouraging a religion or non–religion under the Free
Exercise Clause. This prevents the government from bias in religious–based issues. The Prince v. Massachusetts Supreme Court case is an example of
how these clauses protect people from government interference of practicing their religion. However, if the religious belief conflicts with other laws or
"public morals," then the clauses' jurisdiction runs out. The First Amendment contain these two clauses to separate church and state and prevent
unnecessary prejudice in the

Government Influence On Religion During The 18th Century
Research Paper Looking back during the 18th century, I will describe the positive influence of the United States Government on faith and spiritual
belief, throughout that time to present day. First I will explain what it was like for an immigrant to arrive in America during the 18th century and the
religious impact it had on them. Furthermore I will describe the Governments influence on the military with religion throughout peaceful times and war
times. Lastly I will talk about how the Government included religion in the currency and even the pledge of allegiance. Additionally to better
understand Government influence on religion, we must look at religion as a whole and its historical as well as current population numbers. To define
faith and spiritual belief we must separate these terms from one another to better understand their meaning. According to Merriam Webster the word
faith is defined as "The strong belief or trust in someone or something or belief in the existence of God". What I distinguish from this definition is
believing in something even though you have never seen it. Next the word spiritual according to Merriam Webster is defined as "relating to religion
or religious beliefs". From these definitions I will consider religion to be the biggest example of faith and spiritual belief. For example an ... Show more
They believed the Government would influence immigrants to go against their spiritual beliefs. According to Timeline: Faith in America "At the Pine
Ridge reservation in North Dakota, federal agents confront a group of Lakota Sioux ... Shooting breaks out and in the ensuing massacre, both U.S.
soldiers and unarmed Sioux men, women and children are killed". This event took place after local Indians practiced a ritual based on their religion
were killed by federal agents. These agents were acting as a representative of the Government of that

How Religion Has Impacted Our Government Essay
"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To
the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." –George Washington Many
people often wonder about religion and ponder the questions of what it is and how it affects us. To start off, religion is a belief, it is to believe in a
God or Gods. Nine out of ten Americans believe in God, according to Guallop.com Religion has impacted our government in many ways such as family
stability, happiness, social breakdowns, and policy implications. The first aspect of how religion has impacted our government is the aspect the
stability in our families. How stable are our families? According to professors of sociology at Brigham Young University, Howard Bahr and Bruce
Chadwick, "There is a relationship between family solidarity –– family health if you will –– and church affiliation and activity." Meaning that, the
more a family practiced the religion the more stable their family was. Americans relate the commitment of their family to the commitment with God,
which means, the stronger a family 's faith was is God, the stronger their family would be. Many married couples can relate God to being a factor of
their happiness in their marriage, and the reason they have a successful marriage. It has been proven that the rate of divorce is lower between a married

Religion in government: a plea for our morals and their...
Hello, I am a God–fearing, love–filled, concerned citizen who is very worried over the slow degradation of morals held in today's society. In part
this horrible condition has come about through the lack of laws restricting the spread of immoral subject matter in television programs and
advertisement, the legalization and representation of abortion as a legitimate choice over the welfare of a child and its mother instead of an
irreprehensible act of murder, and many other very obvious examples of the our governments lack of legislation to protect the morals of our American
families. All of these examples, though rightfully a big reason for any Christian to be concerned there is an argument behind these problems, a cause to
the growing... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in
the Sacred Writings, that "except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it...I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers
imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and
that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service." **
These statements reflect the shared sentiment of how important their religion was to them as well as to the future of the nation they were attempting to
create.
There have been a number of events to which the argument against the involvement of religion in the affairs of the state has been applied, the debate
over the constitutionality of displaying the Ten Commandments in the

What Role Should Religion Play in Government Policies? Essay
Political Science 1020E
Professor Nigmendra Narain
Term 1 Essay: What role should religion play in government policies?
By Nivedita Sen Student Number: 250589199 Section – LEC 575 In today's world, religion plays a profound part in many people's lives and they find
it important to firmly follow the guiding principles of a religion. Religion has been ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Morals are norms of behaviour that the society acknowledges. Religion sets rules and customs for its followers. These religious rules influence
the legislative system. If religion plays a role in government policies, it would also influence laws. For example, religious beliefs and morals
influence abortion laws in many parts of the world. It is still looked upon as morally wrong on the basis of religious ideas to undergo an abortion
procedure. Phillip Montague points that "legal and political debate and decision making should be governed by standard criteria for assessing
reasons and reasoning, and when religious considerations fail to satisfy such criteria, they should not be allowed to influence matters of law and
public policy" (Montague 17). He further states that these matters consist of abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia along with numerous
subjects of social justice such as welfare policies. Montague claims that in comparison with secular reasons, "religious reasons fail by a wide margin
to deal adequately with the complexity of such issues" (Montague 17). For instance, a person who argues that homosexuality is morally wrong for the
reason that it opposes the divine law would be referring to religious grounds to support his argument and not secular. Individuals should not be arguing
for restrictive laws or policies if they do not have secular grounds to support them. They should only put across views that are

The Importance And Cons Of The First Amendment
The Bill of rights in our country's constitution contains a total of 10 amendments, serving the purpose of listing and protecting the rights of individuals
in our country. The following essay will be focusing on the beginning of the First Amendment which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...", and will also be explaining why the Founders of our country thought freedom of
religion was so important, the differences between the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise clause, and what limitations, if any, should be
imposed on the free exercise of one's religion.
The Founders moved to the United States from Britain to gain the ability to freely practice their religion without consequences. They could not have
religious independence in Britain because Britain's official religion was Catholicism, which is why they thought that freedom of religion was so
important. The Great Awakening was a social movement and revitalization of religious piety started in America between the 1730s
–1770s. Through the
awakening, the colonists realized that religious power resided in their own hands, rather than in the hands of the church of England. The freedom of
religion clause in the first part of the First Amendment says the strong belief in America that government should not interfere with religion.
The law prohibiting the government from declaring an official religion is mentioned in the Establishment Clause,

Dbq Essay On Religion And Government
In early American history, religion and government played pivotal roles and have continued to even today. However, the size of the roles religion and
government have played have fluctuated in relation to each other. Religion had more sway over the government and the people in early American
society, however today it has significantly less visible power over the government, it still holds influence over many of the people both as voters and
officials, as well as legislation.
When settlers first arrived in the United States religious freedom was a priority. However, the freedom they sought was only extended to their own
particular religion instead of universally. The entire community went to church and participated in religious activities (Source A). The entire society
was based around the church and it's teachings. The Puritans were the most prevalent ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Plymouth became a place where their religion was the law. The governing officials were often high ranking members of the church and the law
were based off of religious doctrine. This allowed for those in authority to secure their power through religious rationales, leading to their
government to be less of a democracy and seemingly more of a theocracy. Sin had become a punishable offense, what was seen as wrong from a
religious standpoint shaped the morals of those who were in the government, and thus they shaped their laws accordingly (Source C). This affected
the citizens as they received pressure both religiously and judicially to abstain from particular activities, for fear of being smote both by their God
and their government (Source B). Thus, punishment was, as the laws were, twice as harsh for dissenters of political and/or religious policy. Roger
Williams is a prime example. Before he ventured to the colonies, he had become a controversial figure in England for his ideas of

Article Analysis: Wienclaw's 'Religion, Government, and...
Wienclaw's (2009) "Religion, Government, and Politics" provides a general overview of how religion influences politics and public policy by
influencing worldview. The author provides an overview of research on this area of study, which distinguishes between theocratic nations and nations
that attempt to legislate the separation of church and state like the United States. The author points out that even when legislation prevents too much
collusion between religious and public policy, voters are invariably influenced by their religious beliefs and backgrounds. This relationship has been
supported and substantiated by empirical research.
The first section of the article is about church and state in the United States. While religion has been a catalyst for social change as it has been with
racial justice, religion has also impeded the progress of the American democracy in that politicians remain heavily influenced by their religious
backgrounds (Wienclaw, 2009). Therefore, the author describes a conflicted and ambiguous relationship between religion andpolitics in the United
States. The United States professes to have a secular culture that sidelines religion, but in fact, it has been impossible to practically remove religion
from politics. The author points out that religion and politics have been entwined in the United States throughout the history of the union.
The second section of the article is about theocratic state nations. Wienclaw (2009) focuses on Islamic nations

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