In every country there are certain institutions that make up the whole human community. These institutions may include education, culture, industry, military, culture, research, law, medicine, and religion. These institutions are established and are united with each other for certain purposes. However, each country – the common people and those in the government/leadership – has its own perspectives when it comes to the relationship of these institutions with everybody’s daily life. Thus, these various social institutions may be viewed according to each one’s essence or value to the community. In this particular paper, the part of religion in the American society is discussed. This is about how it flourished among the people in the community, its relationship to each individual’s life, and so on.
In studying on what essence religion has in the American society, it is worthy to assert, first and foremost, that America was basically established through religion. It was during the time of Queen Elizabeth that defined religious faith and freedom in the country of England (Lambert, 2003). However, due to the persecution of those who embraced Protestantism and Catholicism, in particular, these people sought ways to leave England and to have religious freedom. And so the people reached the land of Northern American and settled there, establishing their own churches according to their religious beliefs. Then the establishment of the government soon took its place. Thus, this will allow everyone to understand that religion has been a part of the American people ever since.
Now concerning the development of this institution of religion in the American society, history attests to how it flourished since the World War II. It became evident that after the end of World War II, American culture went further toward the right ways that have energized religious conservatives (Laderman & León, 2003). Religious conservatism is viewed by many as the ‘founding conservatism’, which demands the society to adhere to the original principles on which America has been established (Schultz, West, & MacLean, 1999). With such religious stimulation in the culture, various things associated to religion grew rapidly. The conservatives went mobilizing; development of media networks was taken into utilization; and “evangelical schools were proliferating” (Laderman & León, 2003, p. 495). One example of this is after the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision which allows the women to have legal access to abortions, which for many decades – until today – is known to be not morally right. Religion was the means to deal with various crises – those issues that have something to do with morality – within America. In fact, the growth of religious institution can be traced back since 1950s, when formal membership in churches, church funding, and institutional building took place, making the traditional faith practiced developed significantly (Beckman, 2000). Religious organizations made such programs, requiring the cooperation of their members, as a response to their religious conscience and conviction in public life. They did not only intend to have the influence of religion within each one’s life, but also to let religion’s impact spread throughout the whole American community.
However, the religious institution in America also found itself striving into its development in the midst of various social and political challenges. For instance, many social movements, Civil rights, and the emergence of various “alternative” ethnic religions (e.g. yoga, meditation, etc.) greatly challenged the religious sector to make their positions. The Sexual Revolution (1960s) for example, made a dramatic shift in American values with regards to sex and sexuality. Sex, which has always been bounded within the [blessed] covenant of marriage, became acceptable to the public even without marriage. Pre-marital sex and homosexuals alike came into emergence during these times. Moreover, the existence of beliefs and practices not related to what has been established by the American forefathers compelled the religious institution to have its public influence strengthened. The religious institution at this time formed the various [conservative] religious communities into unity, making them a community of moral obligation, defined by shared expectations and purposes, and sustained by social interaction (Wuthnow, 1989). Basically, the development of this institution was based on the emergence of moral/ethical inappropriateness in the public. With the increase of various moral crises in America since the World War II, the religious institution also found its way to make greater religious influence to the American community, covering various aspects of society.
Now the religious aspect of American society is different from that of other countries, particularly India, China and the Muslim countries. The representation or essence of religion in these countries has some similarities and differences compared to the essence of religion in America. It should be realized that the way religion fits itself into human society has to do with the core beliefs or understanding of the people. Religion in America – which is Christianity, in general – works within the society essentially because of having belief of God at the core of the religion. These religious American people believe that their beliefs and their lives are directed to their relationship with God. Their religion seeks uprightness in society because of fear of God. Their religion seeks freedom in the community because of understanding that God gives grace to his people. Now in Indian and Chinese religious institution, the expression of religion is different only when it comes to the core principles and practices within their religion. To the Indian/Chinese people, religion is philosophy. Throughout history philosophers established their beliefs and practices in these two countries. Two great examples of these are Gautama Buddha and Confucius. Ethics and good conduct is the [general] implication of the principles of the religion in these countries. In addition, enlightenment is the implied purpose of being religious. These religious institutions in India and China are similar to America’s when it comes to having schools and organization that make influence to society. In fact, there are many martial arts schools throughout these countries that promote their beliefs and practices – particularly divination. The difference is that in America, religion is seen to be a more rational thing, making it penetrate various aspect of man’s entire life, and even the other institution of the country. On the other hand, Chinese/Indian religious is simply seen as a way of life. There’s no influence on other social institutions like politics. In Islamic countries, however, religion is also seen in a different way. Although there are significant differences, Islam people also believe in God as Americans do. Now Islam is said to be condemning and rejecting “all forms of terror, killing without due process of law, injustice, corruption, tyranny, and oppression” (Smock, 2002, viii). However, many Muslims misunderstand this in such a way that they tend to apply this whenever there is oppression upon them. When other countries come into opposition to them, they are always ready for war. This misunderstanding is seen in terrorism, such as suicidal attacks. It is seen that [most] Muslims believe that their religion makes them dominant in war. And the most of common in this is the perspective in Islamic Jihadism. Muslims believe that “the more mercilessly you kill, the more mercy you earn and the greater the reward” (Patterson, 2010, p. 72). This, therefore, is how American religion becomes different from Chinese, Indian, and Muslim religion.
Furthermore, the religious institution in America is significantly essential when it comes to its impact to other institutions in the society. Its first impact is upon the institution of law, particularly on the Civil Rights. The First Amendment in the Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free practice thereof: ” This Amendment was initiated by the uprising conflicts between various religious communities within America. And since Protestantism took prominence at those times, it even had serious impact upon the political aspect of the country. In turn, other religious communities are not treated with partiality; the government is more associated with Protestantism. Thus, the First Amendment took place, being “a wall of separation” between the government and religion (Dautrich & Yalof, 2011). It is very clear that if government will be driven by a particular religion’s core principles, beliefs, and practices, it will most likely be unfair to other religious communities. Thus, this First Amendment released the government from the hand of religion, and freed religion from the hands of government.
This is the first impact of religion in the American society. Civil rights of the people is well addressed since freedom is given for everyone to believe on what they want to believe in and to do what they wanted to do, as long as their religion does not make conflict against social and political standards of the community.
Nevertheless, in relation to this, many believe on the presence of negative impact of religion upon the American society. There is of course freedom with regards to religious identity, but many refer to the advocating for other civil rights – particularly with regards to homosexuality or gay/lesbian marriages and abortion. But these issues on homosexuality and abortion should be clearly discussed. Many, especially the homosexuals, insist for the legalization of same-sex marriages in various states in America. Although there are already some states/countries that legalized it, religion is evidently the greatest factor that opposes this. People may say that this is the negative impact of religion since it deprives the homosexuals of their rights in the society, but there are certain rational reasons why this is not true. The reason why religion opposes the rights of homosexuals is due to morality. Even at the beginning of religion, homosexuality is accepted to be an immoral act. Moreover, if America will adapt same-sex marriages, what will happen to human society – which for many generations has continued through families established by having men marry women?
This is the greatest challenge religious institution in America faces even until today. Morality is gradually being despised in the public. For instance, various forms of corruption have crept in into the government, industries, and other part of the economic and political institutions of America. Morality is the positive aspect of religion in community, but it is also the challenge of the religious institution. Just as the first two presidents of the United States of America, who are George Washington and John Adams, the people of America should also see the part this institution has in their society. As a proponent of religion, George Washington said, “National morality could not exist in exclusion of religious principle.” (as cited in Library of Congress, n.d.). Virtue and morality are the only ones that could deal with the increasing number of young people who tend to have their lives wasted in various forms of addictions. And the religious institution is the only means to make virtue and morality take their place in the public/social life.
Resources
Beckman, J. (2000). Religion in the post-world war II America. Retrieved from http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/twenty/tkeyinfo/trelww2.htm
Dautrich, K., & Yalof, D. (2011) American government: Historical, popular, and global perspectives. CA: Cengage Learning.
Laderman, G., & León, L. (2003). Religion and American cultures. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Lambert, F. (2003). The founding fathers and the place of religion in America. NJ: Princeton University Press.
Library of Congress. (n.d.) IV. Religion and the Federal Government Part 1. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06.html.
Patterson, D. (2010). A genealogy of evil: Anti-Semitism from Nazism to Islamic Jihad. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Schultz, J., West, J., & MacLean, I. (1999). Encyclopedia of religion in American politics. Phoenix, AZ: The Oryx Press.
Smock, D. (2002). Religious perspectives on war. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace.
Wuthnow, R. (1989). The restructuring of American religion: Society and faith since world war II. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
