An IntroductionOne Nation: Many FaithsHow Religious Liberty Shaped

America

TAH 2010

Why Does This Topic Matter?

• What is the relationship between government and religion in the US today?

• Is this unique or normal around the world?

• How does this relationship relate to democracy?

Discuss

How Did This Relationship Come About?

Evolved out of…• ideas of good government from history and

Enlightenment political philosophies • events occurring in Europe before & during

establishment of the American colonies.• attitudes and power of European conquerors• clashes among religious minorities within

America

Historically Religion & Government Tied

• Right to rule was legitimized by religion.• Believed morality & good government depended

on an established, shared religion and set of values.

• Individual rights not social or government priority.

Give Examples

Historically Religion & Government Tied

• Religious and political leaders in Europe worked hand-in-hand.

• Thousands killed in religious struggles against Muslims.

• Political leaders gained power when successful in religious causes.

Religious Wars in Late Middle Ages

Key Events in Religious Wars

Reconquest of Spain to Push Out Muslims and then Jews

Ferdinand & Isabella Most Catholic Monarchs

Key Events in Religious Wars

Crusades 1096-1272

Historically Religion & Government Tied

• Religious Wars in Europe were the backdrop of exploration and colonization of America.

• Millions killed in religious struggles created by multiple reforms and reform groups.

• When leaders of a religious group came to power they established their belief as the official one - outlawed & persecuted others.

Religious Wars and Reformation

Protestant & Catholic

Kingdoms in Europe

Source: Mapping History-World Religions. Ian Barnes:

REFORMATION 1560 – 1572Dark Green = Reformed faith dominant Medium Green = Reformed faith growing Light Greens = Catholic dominant Red Dots = riots/clashes

Pink = Roman Catholic

Sources of Political Thinking in America’s Spanish and Portuguese Colonies

Who drew this line in 1494? How does this relate to issue of government & religion?

Spanish & Portuguese colonieswere religious as well as political and economic.

Goal was to spread the “one true faith.”

Sources of Political Thinking in America’s British Colonies

English Reformation based on politics that began with Henry VIII. He intended to place church under king, not change religious beliefs.Son Edward VI’s (9 yrs),Regency Council made Englandlook Protestant.

Sources of Thinking in British ColoniesDaughter Mary forced England back to Catholicism, burned Protestant heretics.

Daughter Elizabeth I, restored Church of England (Protestant)

Sources of Political Thinking in British Colonies

Charles I wanted Anglican worship.

Growth of Puritanism Gained Control of Parliament

Puritans increased & gainedcontrol of Parliament – OliverCromwell

CIVIL WAR

Political Thinking in British Colonies

Became a new form of repression. 1660 restored king, Charles II, who re-repressed non Anglicans. Back and forth through several other kings.

Cromwell & Parliament set up Puritan state.

All happening during time American colonies set up. People took sides and fought each other.

Not really good guys vs bad guys but power grabs by each.Many people come to think that this is what religious

establishment means.

Historically Religion & Government Tied in America

American colonies followed the European model.– Spanish & French colonies – Catholic– Anglican Virginia– Puritan Anglicanism in New England

There were problems in following that model almost from the beginning in the American colonies – WHY?

Religious Diversity Pushes the Envelope for Freedom

• Each group migrates for THEIR religious freedom

• Majority usually wants to make everyone adhere to their beliefs

• Religious minorities push for freedom

EXAMPLE Jewish migrations to America

1654 – New Amsterdam1658 – Rhode Island

1654 Jews from Recife Landed in New Amsterdam

Gov. Peter Stuyvesant “Jews are a deceitful, repugnant people… if we tolerate them, we would have to tolerate Lutherans, Papists, and Baptists as well.”Asks permission of Dutch East India company to keep them out.

Typical response following the European model

Second Arrival of Jews 1658Rhode Island

Welcomed Jews and said you have same rights to set up

religious meeting places, etc., as everyone else.

Governor was Roger Williams

A-typical response

Why is the Story of These Two Jewish Arrivals Important?

This story highlights America’s struggle to define itself.

Is America Defined by…

A set of shared religious values?

A set of shared values based on individual

rights?

How People Decide the Essence of America is based on How They Answer

These Questions

• What is the primary goal of humans when they choose to live as a community?

• What should motivate human behavior?

How People Decide the Essence of America is based on How They Answer

These Questions

• What is the best relationship between the public and private spheres of human life?

• How important is participation in civic or community activities?

Think Pair Share

• Think about your answers to the essential questions.• Briefly record your ideas on the worksheet grid at

your table. • Turn to a partner

– Longer hair share your ideas/answers and why– Shorter hair paraphrase what he/she said– Shorter hair share your ideas/answers and why– Longer hair paraphrase

• Record any new ideas on your sheet

How Others Have Answered These Questions

Aristotle (Greek ) & Cicero (Roman) Answer…• People form a community to meet common

needs. • People should work together for the good of

everyone or community falls apart.• People who work for the common good have

“civic virtue.”

Classical Republicanism

How Others Have Answered These Questions

• Civic virtue requires moral education based on shared ideas/values.

• Works best in small homogeneous societies (similar wealth, values, beliefs)

• Citizenship is an “office” or role in society with duties attached such as participation in elections, military, economy, etc.

Classical Republicanism

At your table, discuss positive & possible negative sides of Classical Republicanism. Record your answers on chart paper.

Classical Republicanism

_ PositivesPossible Negatives

How Others Have Answered These Questions

17th c. Philosophers Answer (Locke, et al)…• In state of nature, people = free, equal & rational, but

not naturally social.• Since people seek advantage over others, it’s hard to

live in a state of nature.• To secure natural rights to freedom and equality people

create a social contract to form gov’t.• Emphasis is on the individual rights, regardless of

wealth, social status, or birth.

Natural rights philosophy

How Others Have Answered These Questions

– Government is by consent of the governed. If gov’t doesn’t protect rights, take consent away & revolt =Popular Sovereignty

– Limited government – gov’t can’t rule to exclusion of individual life, liberty & property even for common good.

– Good society is when everyone’s political rights are equally protected.

Natural rights philosophy

At your table, discuss positive & possible negative sides of Natural Rights philo-sophy. Record your answers on chart paper.

Natural Rights Philosophy

_ PositivesPossible Negatives

Two Views of Government

Classical Republicanism is Best Government

Government should protect the common good above all else. Determining “Common Good” is based on the shared beliefs and understandings of civic virtue.

Protection of Natural Rights is Best Government

Government should protect individual rights above all else. These rights are defined as life, liberty, and property. Government power derived from consent of the governed.

Two Views of Good Government in America

Government & Religion Together is Best Model

America is a model of what society should be like. It’s based on Christian beliefs that are enforced by government. These Christian beliefs are the basis of the civic virtueneeded to run a society for the common good.

Government & Religion Separate is Best Model

America is a model of freedom of thought and belief where each person is left to make his/her individual decisions. Society’s protection of each person’s freedoms creates the common good.

American Constitution is Combination of these Ideas

Classical Republicanism

• Preamble (common defense, general welfare)

• Electoral college limit on direct vote

• State selected Senators 6-year terms

• Court justices appointed for life

• Constitutional law above state, local law

• Citizen army, federal control

Natural Rights Philosophy

• Preamble – (blessings of liberty)• Bill of Rights – especially 1st & 5th

Amendments• 13th & 14th, & 19th amendments• House of Representatives – 2-year

terms, power to tax• Limited powers of government –

10th Amendment• Habeas Corpus• Separation of powers to allow

checks & balances

Clash of These Ideas Throughout American History

Some support a government – religion partnership that favors Christianity (Classical Republicanism)

***Some support religious freedom that encourages

free exercise by everyone, even secular thinkers (Natural Rights).

***Some support a Judeo-Christian based “civil religion” but other religious groups allowed.

(Toleration but not Free Exercise)

Forces for Classical Republican Thinking

• Tradition of church state symbiosis• Historical thinking of early leaders• Puritan ideal of America as a New World and a

second chance given by God to ‘get it right’• Huge size of Protestant Christian population

Historical example of Classical Republican thinking in action…

Early Puritan Ideal of America

– America is based on a covenant with God, a “City Upon a Hill”, an attempt at implementing perfect Christianity in society. (John Winthrop)

– Whole world watches & looks up to this model. – God blesses America as long as it behaves with

“Christian Charity.” – Social/gov’t leaders must enforce this Godly behavior

or America is doomed.

America is defined as a Christian set of religious & social understandings that make us superior to other nations (exceptional) as long as we follow this ideal.

Puritans Supported Religious “Establishment”

• Alliance between Church and State in the governance of private and public life

• Tax support for the established church• Government authorization of religious organizations,

meetings, and ministers• Civil enforcement of religious rules and teachings, church

attendance America is God’s model of social purity for the world.VERY POWERFUL IDEA IN AMERICAN SOCIETY EVEN TODAY

What Was It? – “City on a Hill”

Challenged by Advocates for Natural Rights

• Roger Williams• William Penn• Thomas Paine• Thomas Jefferson• James Madison

… it is the will and command of Godthat … a permission of the mostpaganish, Jewish, Turkish, or anti-christian consciences and worships,be granted to all men in all nationsand countries; and they are only tobe fought against with that swordwhich is only (in soul matters) able toconquer, to wit, … the Word of God.

R.. Williams

Forces for Individual Liberty - Religion

• Westward migration meant people far from organized church parishes & seats of gov’t.

• Declining church membership & increased material focus.

• Increased religious diversity from immigration and Great Awakening.

• Influence of Enlightenment philosophies.• General weakness of national government.

Religion & Democracy in American HistoryExploding religious pluralism has meant a history

of competition, conflict, and compromise that is infused in our political system.

Arguments US is a Christian country… should be the favored religion.

vsUS has complete separation of church & state so no church or religion in general should be favored.

WHICH IS IT?

Religion and Democracy… A Difficult Combination

• Always a multitude of religious groups in America– Each proclaims a superior understanding of

ultimate truth• These “truths” compete in marketplace of

ideas• Ideas of “Civic Virtue” differ• Each group wants to govern according to its

definition

Religion and Democracy… A Difficult Combination

• Some people applaud our diversity = religious freedom & separation of church & state

• Some fear lack of moral/social unity = established religion & church-state together

• Some argue we can have best of both = establish religion in general or Christianity in general & state-religion work together for common good & tolerate others

Historical Examples of Puritan Ideal of America

• Tax supported churches in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire.

• Beliefs in superiority of “Puritan work ethic”• Know Nothings, Anti-Catholic arguments• Social reforms - Christian Temperance, etc.• Manifest Destiny• Carlisle Indian Boarding Schools• 19th and early 20th c. foreign policy - Senator Albert

Beveridge• Anti-Communist rhetoric

Example today http://mcnaughtonart.com/artwork/view_zoom?artpiece_id=353

Used religion to promote the “Common Good”

Historical Examples of Natural Rights America

• Great Awakening - minority religions v. those established in some regions

• VA Act Establishing Religious Freedom• Middle Colonies - model of diversity in action• No religious test for public office - Constitution• Washington and Newport Rhode Island Jews • First Amendment • Wall of Separation - Jefferson• JFK - 1960 speech• Most Supreme Court decisions since 1947

Historical Examples of Civil Religion “Compromise”

• Maryland’s Act of Religious Tolerance (believe in Trinity for public office)

• Ecumenical chaplains in military & Congress• Social Gospel movement• School prayer & Bible reading• Civil religion, e.g. “In God We Trust”, “under God” in

Pledge of Allegiance• Faith-based initiatives

Goal = “Toleration” not free exercise.