United States History. Religion has always had a central role in the history of this country and to a certain extent, was a fundamental player in the establishment of the American state.

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Reconsidering Religion in the United States

Though on many levels the United States is a forward nation and global leader, American society still holds on to, in one way or another, many backwards and puritanical values that were once at the core of this nation’s foundation. While at one time certain values and principles were necessary for the survival of the community, today they have become part of an archaic system that is incompatible with a modern industrialized society such as ours. Religion has had a pivotal role in various historical events that have shaped the course of this nation as a consequence of the sentiments and beliefs of the followers of religious doctrine. Though religion is meant for the overall good of mankind, much controversy has surrounded the actions of religious extremist over the years, ranging from intolerance, hate, and even terrorism. It is undeniable the effect that religion has over its followers ranging from the common man to politicians, but as social, political, and scientific progress continues to advance, the role of religion in the United States should be reconsidered as we look to maintain our leading position in the front of the global community.

        Given the vastness and complexity of the role of religion in the history of the United States, it would be impossible to summarize all the major components of the subject within the confines of one paper. However, a brief summary of some important historical events is required to better understand the way this nation has been shaped  as a consequence of religious doctrine.

Religion has always had a central role in the history of this country and to a certain extent, was a fundamental player in the establishment of the American state. From an early age in elementary school we are taught how during the 17th century, a sect of Englishmen were persecuted for their religious beliefs and so, fled the tyrannical rule of the British crown to establish a society where they could practice in peace. Having landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, the Pilgrims established a colony bearing the name of their place of landing where they established self rule in accordance to their puritan values. Despite initial hardships, the colony of Plymouth was rather successful, self sufficient, and given the general sentiments and beliefs of the population, it was a colony of a people united through faith. Though the Pilgrims sought the freedom to practice their creed, being Puritans they wanted to as the name suggests, “purify” the Anglican Church from years of perversions by the English monarch. This strict adherence to traditional and conservative views and strict theological governance resulted in dissidence towards the leadership of the colony. The neighboring colony of Rhode Island was established justly as a consequence of an uprising towards the puritan institute of Massachusetts and Plymouth as safe havens for those who wished to practice their respective religions without interference from a theologically based government.

The idea of separation of church and state would eventually go on to find itself as a key principle in the newly independent United States. As guaranteed by the Constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (US Const., amend I). Up until that point, religion had a significant role in the years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War. At the time of independence, religion helped define allegiances and loyalties as many of those sympathetic to the British Crown were Anglicans. Despite the negative result of the war for the Loyalists, they were able to continue practicing their faith as the principles of freedom protected them. The right to practice independent of government involvement guaranteed  under the Constitution was fundamental in establishing a pluralistic state in the U.S. that embraces a diverse array of conflicting faiths and beliefs. It is this very ideal which aimed to protect the rights of the individual and ultimately the integrity of a unified national government that would ultimately go on to establishing regional differences and sectionalism within the nation.

        In examining the role of religion in the United States, it is crucial to touch upon one of the most marking periods in the nation’s history. The Civil War dissolved the Union among regional and sectionalist lines, in what has been the bloodiest conflict on American  soil. Until the mid 19th century, national congregations helped provide a sense of unity across state lines amongst its followers. However, with moral issues such as slavery coming into questioning, regional chapters of the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches split off from their  national counterparts; each one embracing certain moral views that alienated their members from  one another. As churches were central aspects of the community, ministers and religious leaders had great influence in helping fuel the division between the different regions. In border states such as Virginia, “Southern Methodism spread sectional sympathy… while in the western part of Virginia, where Northern Methodism was strong, ‘the sentiment… for Union was overwhelming’” (Goen 10). In the South, where slavery was a key part of the region’s economy and culture, religious sects “provided distorted images of ‘the other side’ and encouraged ‘peaceful secession’”. While in the North religious groups such as the Quakers spoke out against the institution of slavery, in the south it was justified by ministers through passages in Genesis and claims that it was “God’s will” that blacks be held as slaves to the whites.

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        The dawn of the 20th century was marked by various movements that had religion at their forefront. With the rise of the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement, policies regarding alcoholic beverages began to take on national importance as they, along with other temperance groups, argued that liquor was the root of many of the country’s problems. The period of Prohibition started 1919 with the passing of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation  thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States…”(US Const., amend. XVIII).  Though the main goal of ...

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