Religious Freedom Essay - 3039 Words

The United States of America was founded with a credo of religious freedom. They hoped to change the vicious cycle of religious persecution and intolerance that had been swirling through Europe for centuries. Over the last two hundred years this legacy has been shredded and stained. Our religious freedoms have been taken away by people who have twisted what our country was founded to protect. The North American continent was settled by thousands of refugees from different religious persecutions from all around the globe. An excellent example is that of the Pilgrims, who fled from England after they were persecuted for starting their own church instead of attending the official Church of England. Although it was nearly two hundred†¦show more content†¦Many of Washington’s fellow statesmen expressed similar feelings. In his famous letter to the Danbury Baptists, Thomas Jefferson reassures the Baptists of their right to religious freedom by saying, Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should `make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state. In addition to these personal letters, the founding fathers left a clear picture of their views in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently put it, â€Å"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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.† With this one statement he not only puts forward the idea of unalienable rights, he also clearly states the belief of many of the founding fathers in a Creator. FifteenShow MoreRelatedThe Controversy Over Religious Freedom1264 Words   |  6 PagesControversies Over Religious Freedom Religious freedom has been a staple of the American doctrine since the Bill of Rights. Since then, religious freedom has been challenged non-stop. From the Supreme Court’s rulings that have shaped what religious freedoms mean, which include the enactment of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and the legalization of same-sex marriage; to obstacles that Muslims face. Religious freedom has been and continuous to be a center point in American politicsRead MoreThe Religious Freedom Restoration Act1309 Words   |  6 PagesThe Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is a federal law that was set up to protect the free exercise of religion, as an undeniable right, protected by the First Amendment. Easy enough, right –however, it seems can be interpreted in different ways, some depending on what your beliefs are i.e., religious or secular. Such as in the legal case of Burwell (U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services) vs. Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby argued that they should not have to pay for contraceptives for theirRead MoreThe Religious Freedom Restoration Act962 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United States. One such policy that concerns many is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In light of the political climate in today’s society the act requires a review to determine if the law is fair to all cultures and their religious belief. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed in 1993, allows for any business to be entitled to an exemption from applicable laws as long as it can be proven to be due to one’s religious belief. (Rivkin, David Whelan, 2012). In simpler terms, itRead MoreLocal Religious Freedom Restoration Act905 Words   |  4 PagesLocal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) are controversial in nature, because while they pretend to use the excuse to protect the free exercise of religion, intrinsically it is an avenue to attack same sex marriages which have been ruled constitutional by most circuit appellate courts in the United States. Currently the Supreme Court is hearing the cases that might ultimately decide the faith of marriage equality. United States v. Windsor opened the door for most federal appellate jurisdictionsRead MoreReligious Freedom Essay1261 Words   |  6 PagesReligious Freedom America has been named the melting pot of the world. It houses many different cultures, nationalities, ideas and religions. There are Christians, Jews, Catholics, Buddhists, Mormons, Hindus, Spiritualists, Jehovahs Witnesses, Islamic, plus many more. America is unique in that all these religions are represented in a nation that is only 200 years old. And America has upheld, throughout history, that the freedom and equality of religion is extremely important in orderRead MoreReligious Freedom in a World of Religious Restrictions3111 Words   |  13 PagesReligious Freedom in a World of Religious Restrictions About half a decade ago John F. Kennedy spoke these famous words: â€Å"tolerance implies no lack of commitment to ones own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others† (1930). Nowadays the issues of tolerance, oppression and persecution are still relevant, especially with regard to religion. Even though globally and nationally religious restrictions are increasing, without most Western people’s awareness, there is hope forRead MoreReligious Freedom in the Workplace640 Words   |  3 Pagesno threat of persecution. In order to accomplish the goal of religious freedom and continue to ensure that all people of any religion would be free to practice their religion, the United States passed Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits an employer from discriminating based on the religious views of its employees. As the citizens of the United States spend a large amount of time in their places of employment, religious practices that thes e employees feel are necessary for the trueRead MoreReligious Freedom in America569 Words   |  2 Pagesand established by religious toleration and freedom. Without religious freedom, people are forced to comply with laws and policies that blatantly contradict their beliefs. This results in people living their lives in a struggle between their personal beliefs and obeying the laws that are placed before them. Obviously upholding personal convictions is very important, but people are forced to decide if it is personally worth the persecutions they may endure in result of it. Freedom of religion is consideredRead MoreHeavens Gate and the Infingement of Religious Freedom2800 Words   |  12 PagesInfringement of Religious Freedoms Introduction How much religious freedom do we want? The United States Constitution guarantees religious freedom to all citizens. However, since the establishment of this freedom, there have been continuous debates and modifications. Despite this independence, there have been times when the government felt it necessary to infringe upon religious freedom for various reasons. The question is, at which point it is okay for the government to become involved in religious affairsRead More A Guard on Religious Freedom Essay765 Words   |  4 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A Guard on Religious Freedom In the eyes of our founding fathers, few things seemed as important as the separation of church and state. The first amendment grants all Americans the freedom to subscribe to any religion they wish and promises that the government will not promote any religion above any other. Although the separation of church and state and the freedom of religion are firmly and concretely secured in the Constitution of the