Abstract Of the many significant structural and ideological changes which have taken place in Europe's history, the French Revolution represents an important social shift in the relations between the "people" and the Church as a privileged partner with the State. By discussing how the French Revolution produced a dramatic and structural limitation in the relation of the Church to the state, I do not wish to suggest that the revolution resulted in a complete separation of the church and state. It does, however, signal important factors that contributed to the diminishing role of the Church in state and in public affairs.
Abstract This paper presents a discussion about school prayer. The author of this paper believes that prayer in school is a direct violation of the constitutional mandate that church and state remain separated, and discusses the intent of the founding fathers when implementing such a separation.
From the Paper "For many years now, the issue of school prayer has made the forefront to the news. We hear that students defy direct orders from school officials and stand to recite the Lord's Prayer at graduation. We hear about principals being hauled into court by the ACLU for allowing students to pray on campus. It is a volatile issue that remains close to the heart on both sides of the argument. The bottom line, however, is that America proudly waves its diversity banner to the rest of the world. We brag about the fact that we welcome and encourage diversity and we are founded on the premise that freedom of religion should be a right of every person."
Abstract This paper examines the separation of church and state as defined by the United States Supreme Court's interpretation of the First Amendment religion clause, especially the Establishment Clause. This has been a source of increasingly heated debate in American society and politics. The paper shows that many conservatives and religious activists are angry that lower state courts, federal district courts, and federal appeals courts have ruled that Ten Commandment displays violate Constitutionally mandated separation of church and state, and are applying unprecedented pressure on the judiciary at every level.
This paper looks at the way in which democracy was embraced in America when people desired freedom over the abuse of power in the church and state in Europe.
2,160 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 8 sources, 2003, $ 67.95
Abstract The following paper discusses the way in which the freethinking Founding Fathers of America gathered in mind and body in the late 1700s order to create a government for the free people of the United States. This paper focuses on their aspirations for a government that would neither be based upon, nor governed by, the tenets or dogma of any particular religion. The paper concludes that Christianity and Democracy, like church and state, must be separate and yet, forever embracing each other.
From the paper:
?In the late 300s, A.D., Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and in order to make the church more universal or ?catholic,? a number of tenets were then formally embraced or anathematized. For purposes of teaching, Church leaders used the writings of early theologians referred to as Church Fathers - many of whom had opposing philosophical views.?
Tags: democratic, empire, roman, poverty, hierarchy, catholic, church
Abstract This paper explains that the original Pledge of Allegiance, written in 1882 by a Christian Socialist Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy, stated, ?I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.? The author points out that the phrase, "under God", which was added in 1954, has raised questions of its constitutionality because it may violate the concept of separation of church and state. The paper relates that the argument for the pledge revolves around the points that God is not bad for the American people or that supporters do fully concur with the idea of the separation of church and state. Color picture and annotated bibliography included.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Origins
Under God
Constitutionality
Those in Favor
Those Against
Conclusion
Annotated Bibliography
From the Paper "The original pledge has changed over the years. For example, in 1923 and 1924, against Bellamy's wishes, the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution changed the words 'my Flag,' to 'the Flag of the United States of America.' In 1954, the United States Congress added the words 'under God' to the Pledge because of a controversial campaign by the Knights of Columbus better known as the KKK. ?In June of 1954, at the height of the McCarthy hysteria, and at the urging of the Knights of Columbus, an amendment was made to add the words "under God." Then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower said of the pledge, "From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and every rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty."?
Abstract It introduces many of the key decisions of our Forefathers and modern Supreme Court. It describes the legal tools the justices have used in interpreting the law & deciding the case between separation of church & state and explain the big ideas that have moved the justices. It also identifies the sharpest decisions among them and shows the difference that the vote of a single justice has so frequently made.
Abstract This paper examines the principle of separation of Church and State. This is a fundamental principle of American democracy. Also, during the war on terror it is seen as a key difference between the United Sates and its fundamentalist Islamic opponents. This doctrine's origins and its importance now, during the war on terrorism, are examined.
Abstract This paper analyzes the intricate ropes that bind and separate the Church and state in the Philippines. The paper discusses some pros and cons of the overlap of Church and state in this country. The paper also aims to prove that culture and religion contribute to governance and politics, as dictated by the history and tradition in the Philippines.
Table of Contents:
Thesis Statement
Church-State History
Church Response to Political Turmoil
Downside of Political Involvement
Call for Action
From the Paper "In the Philippines, the Church and state are tripartite institutions that provide impetus to human development. The Philippines Constitution, however, decrees the separation of these two units wherein they must act as different entities that are mutually exclusive to each other. Each body maintains its own responsibility in the formation of its members."
"To meet the demands of her social and moral roles, the Church exceeds her boundaries by exercising constant political interference. While the Church should limit herself to the spirituality of the flock, she seizes opportunities to criticize government proceedings, and campaigns for the radicalization of Church followers. Despite the principle of Church-state separation, the Church sees it fit to use her people to influence government decisions and fight against weak governance in the state. The state alleges overstepping on the Church's part and the laity's spirituality continually suffers."
"The Church demands state adherence to her teachings. Yet members of the state are not limited to Church followers alone. For instance, the EDSA revolutions, notable state affairs, "had a strongly Catholic flavor... but not all of those at EDSA were of the same faith... there were Protestants, Aglipayans, non-religious, and even born-again Christians" (Constantino, 1991, p. 51)."
Abstract The paper discusses the lack of progress in preventing religious discrimination in schools or throughout the social order. The paper explains that this is because there is a subjective attitude regarding what can be classified as religious discrimination; even in the United States House of Representatives some believe that certain forms of religious discrimination are acceptable, while the highest court demands that the separation of church and state be universal law. The paper shows how the methods of limiting such discrimination are few and ineffective, preventing deterrence from discrimination on a large scale.
From the Paper "Discrimination has been an issue that has existed since the beginning of society in the United States in one form or another. Racial discrimination and discrimination based on gender have been the most discussed forms of discriminatory practices since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Religious discrimination has also been of primary concern throughout society, especially in relation to those of religious faiths other than Christianity. This is perhaps because the founders of the nation supported this religious philosophy and the bulk of Americans have continued to practice the Christian faith as well. Yet, the founding fathers believed that public education was not the place in which religion should guide instruction. This was perhaps because education, as an unwritten rule, requires that the student's mind be open to new ideas and concepts that may be different than his or her social norms. Therefore, the separation of church and state became a guiding principle in the public school system."
Abstract This paper explains that, while the educational systems of the United States and Israel share a number of commonalities in structure and ethnic strife, there are some fundamental differences between the two countries in terms of how education is viewed and for what purposes schools are intended. The author points out that the separation of church and state in public schools in the United States is virtually unheard of in Israel, but both school systems recognize the need to provide for a literate society in the future by providing students with a relevant and timely education today. The paper relates that the general effectiveness of the respective educational systems in the United States and Israel can be considered in terms of the national literacy rates, with both nations achieving high levels of overall literacy; in the United States, the literacy rate is 97 percent, compared with a slightly lower overall literacy rate of 95.4 percent in Israel.
Table of Contents
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Educational System in the United States Educational System in Israel
Conclusion
From the Paper "Schools are unique in any society since they educate and mold the next generation who will then be in charge of how the world will shape up and how these schools will be run in the future. Educators in every country help shape the character and the morality of their students beyond the intellectual and physical instruction provided. An education today must prepare a person for the realities of life, including how to balance a checkbook, answer an employment ad, and how to comport oneself at a job interview. These fundamental skills are just part of a huge body of knowledge which includes everything about a given society and the world in which people live."
Tags: ethnic, church, state, inner, arab, literacy
Abstract The writer of this paper analyzes the decline of the Roman Empire which resulted in an influx of Germanic peoples into the Roman Catholic church which greatly affected all aspects of religious life. Until the division from the Eastern church in 1054 and the break with the Protestant churches in the 16th century, one cannot separate the history of the Roman Catholic church from Christianity's history in general. This paper contains numerous historical facts dating back to the 11th century relating to the division of the church as well as Christian theology. This paper also discusses the tremendous impact of St. Thomas Aquinas in the church and as the founder of scholasticism.
Table of Contents:
The Modern Period
The Church in The U.S.
From the Paper "St. Thomas Aquinas, the Doctor of the Church, died in 1274. He was a great influence in the Church, and helped to usher in scholasticism. This particular approach to Christian theology, associated with this time period, emphasizes rational justification and systematic presentation of Christian theology. Drawing upon the works of Aristotle, Aquinas developed a vast and complex, though unified system of Christian thought, most fully expressed in his "Summa." He arranged Christian beliefs in a systematic presentation, beginning with sources of knowledge, God's existence, and embracing nearly everything that was part of the knowledge of Medieval Europe."
Abstract This paper examines the American constitution's first amendment about the separation of religion and state and discusses this sensitive issue. The writer, however, takes the opinion that the statue of the ten commandments near the state buildings is not unconstitutional. Legal proceeding regarding this issue are discussed in the paper to strengthen the writer's opinion.
From the Paper "In conclusion, with religion being a part of this nation's history and the State Capitol grounds being a national landmark, I think that this monument of the Ten Commandments is in no way unconstitutional. As the First Amendment, Lemon test, Alleghany v. ACLU, Stone v. Graham, and Books v. Elkhart have shown, the proceedings surrounding the placement of this monument and the monument itself are not unconstitutional. Thus for these reasons, I believe that the monument of the Ten Commandments located on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol does not violate the First Amendment and is not in violation of the separation of church and state."
Abstract The purpose of this study is to separate some of the ideological rhetoric regarding Galileo's relationship with the Catholic Church from the historical facts. To do so, the paper examines Galileo's life as it developed and took him on a course towards an eventual trail before the Roman Inquisition. The paper touches upon his contributions to science as well.
From the Paper "In October 1992, the Pope proclaimed in veiled terms and with no clear admission of wrongdoing on the part of the Catholic Church that mistakes were made in the 1633 conviction of Galileo Galilei for heresy (Spaeth 6). Galileo was convicted, as has become part of scientific lore, for his assertion that the Earth revolved around the Sun instead of the other way around. Though Galileo was only confirming an earlier established theory by Polish-born Copernicus, Galileo's run-in with the Church has become iconic over the stretch of the almost four centuries since he was convicted."
Abstract This paper reviews Jon Meacham's book, "American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation", which details information about what the US Founding Fathers believed about God and religion. The reviewer describes Meacham's work as leading the reader through the religious history of the country into the 21st century. The review examines issues presented in Meacham's book, including slavery, freedom from religion and examples of how various factions have attempted to use God and religion to further their particular agendas. The reviewer states that Meacham believes strongly in moderation.
From the Paper "Meacham's book was written at a time when Americans have hotly debated exactly what role religion should play in public life. Some people want the words "Under God" taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance and references to God taken off our currency. A town in Alabama was required to remove the Ten Commandments from a public government display. Even many who believe the concept of separation between Church and State wonder if such decisions are what the Founding Fathers intended. That is what Meacham looks at: what the Founding Fathers believed about God and God's place in the government of the new country."
Abstract This paper discusses a survey of members of the Holman United Methodist Church. The paper explains that the surveyed church members stated that the Holman United Methodist's church mission was to create a stronger community. The author analyzes data from primary sources and from direct interviews with the church members, and concludes that it it was apparent that the church is communally focused upon four guidelines: the distinctive center, justification by grace and a political ethic, tolerance and a pluralist society, and realism and hope. The author states that the church effectively promotes a moralistic ethical system, pride in themselves and political skills to take control of their lives and the Los Angeles African-American community.
From the Paper "The New Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word community as a body of persons having a history or social economic and political interest in common (Webster). Through observation one can see that the members of the Holman United Methodist Church HUMC literally embody this definition since the demographics consists of low to middle class African American community members who reside in the same geographic location fight for their rights of equality in the business sector share similar historical..."
Tags: African American, Community, Church, Los Angeles
