Religion Flashcards
What does the constitution do and not do regarding religion
Doesn’t forbid religious reference in points in debates
Not mentioned in the constitution or bill of rights but the idea that it regulates religion in the public life.
What clauses are in the constitution
The establishment clause - no state sponsored religion like CofE in the UK
Free exercise clause - allows citizens to exercise their religious freedom and follow any religion of their choosing, can’t prevent Catholics from going to mass.
What is religion in the American society
the bedrock ever since it was founded
What is the role between state and religion
Seperation of powers, stops indiviudals from having power, not corrupted. Original sin man can’t be trusted with power so it acts as a way to separate power.
Where can religion be found in the constitution
In the first ammendment, a constitutional right without interference from the state.
What are the two ways religion and the state relationship has been interpreted
Liberal - religion should not interfere with the state.
Conservative - the state should interfere with religion.
What are the establishment clause problems
S - Seperation of state and religion be absolute
A - Should the state play no part in religious activity
L - Should the state not pass any laws if they are seen to prefer one religion over another.
E - How does the state respond to religious expression in public institutions such as schools.
What is the history of religous engagement
Increased over time, been allowed to flourish because there is no state religion. Putnam found that the level of engagement had increased since the founding fathers, in 1980 it was 62%, increased from 17% Putnam
Where does the word god appear in the constitution?
It doesn’t but appears on bank notes, pledge of alliegance
What comment can you make on religous engagment
Overstated except in the Southern bible belt - Mormons and Jeohvah witnesses have. A privatised affair more a belief than an activity.
Define the Christian right
A group who are ideologically close who are formed to defend their moral values, loose and diverse who campaign
What is the divide and who came up with it?
Bruce defined it as traditionalist/conservative/fundamentalists vs. liberals/progressives
What are the two movements
Moral majority - set up in 1979 by Reverend Jim Falwell in Virginia
Christian Coaltion - set up in 1988 by Reverend Robinson a televised evangelist who failed to win the 1988 Republican party nomination.
What were the moral majority tactics?
Campaign to get voters to sign up to vote, previouslt hadn’t as the church had told them to put their religious obligations first. Campaigned for candiates they supported and ran adverts for them.
What were the Christian coalition methods
Voter guides to advise them on candidates regarding key moral and family issues, still issue them today. More involved politically, active in the Rep party, in key positions at state levels, important numbers at primaries and elections. Advocate key issues such as Bush stance on gay rights, watch Mel Gibson’s Passion fulm
How did it emerge?
A response to the 1973 Roe vs. Wade supreme court decision in which states could prohibit abortions was found to be unconstitutional.
Also arose out a deeper context - emergence of the politics of identity and recognisition
Expand on politics of recognisitation
Other margianlised groups started to gain more attention - civil rights, women, gay rights they thought they were the same.
What four key things?
- Prayer in schools
- Teach creation science rather than darwinism
- Introduce key morals and elimante sex ed
- Bannning of key texts that are offensive or wrong.
What is the four key principals
Banning of porn, overturn roe vs. wade, prevent gay rights, re establish gender roles.
What is a key court decision that has affected the NCR
The 1963 Vitale vs Engel decision which found that prayer in school was unconstitutional, attempts to get it changed at state level have even been rejected
What plans have been rejected
Allowing states to change when prayer could take place in school
What have they learnt
That despite having public opinion on side they are still unable to change the decision because of how it will affect marginalised groups. Desire to speak on behalf of a moral majority doesn’t hold any sway with political judgements. See themselves as a victimised minority so are defending their rights.
How is the argument more coherenet
When they argue that the establishment clause doesn’t allow for religion to be promoted, but they argue that secular humanism is instead being promoted
What is secular humanism
Religion is excluded from a public funded organisation i.e school.
