Role of Religion in America - Assignment Example

Role of religion in America It is without a doubt that religion definitely has a role in the life of Americans. This is evident in the U.S Constitution in its First Amendment where it states that the “Congress will not make any law respecting an establishment of religion, nor will it prohibit the free exercise thereof” . This means that there is no established church in America because they place extreme value in the freedom of religion. This clause in the U.S Constitution helps to protect anybody that may feel forced into any kind of religion (Hitchcock 67). America’s religious diversity is a major source of its social strength. America was founded largely by Protestant dissenters where most of them had some form of experience with religious persecution. The founders strived not to make that same mistake again. The separated the church from the state so that everybody will be able to seek justice under the law. Regular religious fellowship sustainably benefits family and the general life of people in America. It is evident that frequent attendance of services and religious meetings is associated with a good and happy life. It can also be related to good parent child relationship. In addition, cases of divorce, children born out of wedlock and extramarital sex are significantly reduced among families that worship regularly. Given the fact that the family is the rock of the society, the benefit of religion are extremely significant. The strong families who have a solid foundation in their religion will resonate the good attribute to the society. This will also benefit the community as well as they will be able to build a strong connection with their neighbour and help to improve the life status of each other in many ways. The fact that the church and the state are recognized as separate states has helped to protect the uprightness in the United States. If there are any lessons that countries that have merged the state and religion is hypocrisy, coercion, and violence (Fraker 90). A classical example is what took place in Pennsylvania that led to the holy experiment. Forced religion is not advisable. America model of freedom of religion, in which no religion or religious group gets any form of favouritism or government support has proved to show the real essence of religion. It is a clear indication that the religious organization must solely rely on their own resources to meet their needs. The religious ideals and institutions have been a key factor to the social reform and movement throughout the American history. Catholics, Orthodox believers and Evangelicals have always been on the fore front at every major decision or social movement that took place in America. For example, the Catholics and the Evangelicals have fought for the abolition of child labour, welfare reforms and women suffrage. These religious groups have been recognized as one of the most influential among various human right communities. They have also formed a coalition with other lobby groups like global Aids to offer support for both affected and infected. Religious groups have also been on the forefront to condemn social injustices like genocide and women and child trafficking. Charity in America has been closely linked with religion. Research has shown a strong connection between religious organization and charitable offerings. From time in memorial, religious institutions in America have been the main source of aid or social service in the community. Examples of religious organization that have offered constant assistance to the less fortunate, provided medical assistance to the sick include World Vision and Mother Teresa Foundation. Over 3000,000 churches in American have at least one program or strategy that they have put in place by contributing money each year to help the needy and poor. Religion has played a major part in liberty and appreciation of human rights in America. The numerous christen ideas have played a major role in making this country a liberal state. The American founders can assert to that fact that religion has played a major role in maintaining ordered liberty. Americans have been able to combine the ideology Christianity and liberty and this has led to the emergence of a democratic state where nobody is above the law. Critiques and defence of religion Criticism does not only concur with intellectual criticism. There are various forms of criticism. Religion, for instance, cannot be only criticized by intellectual critics only; it should be also criticized by religious critics. Criticism of religion is known as the denigration of the validity, doctrines, and practices of religion that may have larger significance in the political and social arena. The critiques of religion or religious belief are the people who have thought provoking arguments against the existence of God (Butler 45). We will closely look at two psychologists and two sociologists who are critiques of religion and look that people who are in defence of this claims that have been put forth. Psychological critiques have the notion that religion is a projection of the mind and this can be considered as an illusion. This is often linked to the concept of the subconscious or unconscious mind. Psychologist Sigmund Freud criticises religion as being an illusion or a projection of the mind. It is also a universal neurosis that is based on unconscious human need for a father figure. Religion was introduced to repress sexual desire and also helps one to deal with the fear of death. It is use to link Oedipus complex and Totem and Taboo. Those in defence of religion believe that the claims put forth by Freud are too patriarchal as there is little evidence to back his claim the Primal horde ever existed. This means that Freud does not consider the Eastern religion traditions like Buddhism relevant since they have a deity. In addition, psychological methods have little relevance today as it is only for the elite client sample. Another Psychologist who criticises religion is Jung. He also shares the same notion of Freud claiming that religion is a projection of collective unconscious. It involves shared images like the mythic hero. These are facts that are interpreted differently base on different culture. Those in defence of religion believe that collective unconscious is located in the brain and is genetic. They also assert that archetypes may be too broad and generalized. Those in defence claim that Jung was not out to prove the existence of God or religion but merely being nonbeliever. Karl Marx as sociologist claims that working people felt alienated from their true selves due to the nature of the capitalist society. The type of alienation encouraged by the illusion of religion helped them to compensate for their suffering in spiritual nature rather than material suffering (Romanowski 40). Religion is thus encourages by those in power to use it as a means of social control “opium of the masses”. Those in defence of religion show that some of their groups promote social action and improvement for example, liberation theology. So they do not know how Marx theory fits in this situation. Marx also predicted that when the proletariat became liberated from the oppression of the capitalists there would be no more need for them to practice religion, yet there are some of the proletariat that are still practicing religion (Taylor 32). The other sociologist who criticised religion was Emile Durkheim. He asserts that religion has a social function and act as a vehicle of cohesion. The objective of religion is to integrate and strengthen the group who practice it. This in turn helps them to understand the world around them. He suggests that the real focus of religion veneration should be the society and not God. Those in defence of religion refute this claims put forth by Durkheim as religious believers tend to have a greater loyalty to God and not of the community. For example, some of the religious groups will tend to go against the practices f the community for example, ML king. Durkheim’s theory is based on a primitive aboriginal society and may not hold much significance in the contemporary world. The society changes bit God does not change. Redemption through holiness Holiness can be regarded as the central purpose of redemption. From the darkest of the most disastrous experiences that life can give use can come some of the greatest blessings. The greatest tragedy that this world has ever witnessed is the death of Jesus Christ. This is regarded as the darkest blot in reference to the human history in addition to his rejection and crucifixion of the son of the most high. Despite all this, God was able to turns mans greatest tragedy into one of the mighty work of redemption. If one is righteous, he is able to listen ad understand what God sat and hi faith is restored. This faith is the able to access the grace of God and one becomes holy. Once a person is holy, God is able to manifest his good will in him so that even if one dies, the mind and soul is transfigured and is able to gain redemption. This means that he is able to serve god and is free from all evil. It is clear in the bible that the world holy in the history of the fallen man or the man who was use to commit sin was connected with an inauguration with God. This is known as the redemption. Redemption can lead to violence or the loss of life. This is evident during the Passover where God killed all the first born children. Work cited Butler, Jon, Grant Wacker, and Randall H. Balmer. Religion in American Life: A Short History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print. Taylor, Robert J, Linda M. Chatters, and Jeffrey S. Levin. Religion in the Lives of African Americans: Social, Psychological, and Health Perspectives. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications, 2004. Print. Fraker, Anne T. Religion and American Life: Resources. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1989. Print. Hitchcock, James. The Supreme Court and Religion in American Life. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 2004. Print. Romanowski, William D. Pop Culture Wars: Religion & the Role of Entertainment in American Life. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2008. Print. Read More