How Does Religion Influence Public Education

March 9 2010
History 13
Paper #3

In 1925 religion and scientific theory collided in a courtroom. John Scopes, a school biology teacher, deliberately violated the state’s anti-evolutionism statute. The fundamentalists won their case in court. The Tennessee state prosecutor won a conviction against Scopes on the grounds that the legislature had the right to determine what was taught in public schools within the state.
The key question during the trial: Should religious beliefs influence public education in a nation where church and state were constitutionally separated? Absolutely Not! The separation of church and state protects an individual’s religious right. Whenever too much of anything becomes an absolute power; things outside the
“circle of thought” never seem to breakthrough. As history has proved in the past no one religion can rule the world and the mindsets of the billions of people on this planet with absolute law and oppression.
Religion is a view or belief of a higher power/truth, that an individual or group identifies with. Religion is also a philosophy that outlines the pattern of human day to day living under a set moral or value system. The United States constitution protects an individual’s ability to choose and practice a religion without fear of persecution. The educational system of old conditioned young minds to the Fundamentalist “Christian” moral and values as the default way of life. There is no class in public school today that will teach you about choosing a religion or a way of life unless you pay for it and your parents approve of it; (i.e. Private School).
Most likely if your parents have grown up a certain way; that certain way will be instilled upon you by default.
Is it a fair way to be brought up? Well it depends on who you ask. During the State vs. Scopes trial; both sides had support and opposition but what was the root excitement of this trial in the public eye? It was Religion vs. Reason (Science), the long battle of two known truths that the majority of the public in the United States identified with. In the 1920’s the Victorian Fundamentalists struggled to keep their idea of god and the just society it has influenced and made a public outcry when Darwinism was being taught in the public education system. It was like a calling to every man and woman of the Christian faith to righteously defend their religion against the tyranny of science which was more associated to the devil. The prosecution and judge were of the townships Christian majority. They unfairly used the power of the good book and church sermons to gain public support in an unfair advantage to the defendants. Followers were lead to believe that the very core of their religion was at risk just like the Catholic Church had reason to believe that Galileo would cause instability amongst its followers by preaching contradicting reason to world views that did not align with the holy bible.
Nothing can divide and conquer a country or friendships like politics and religion. This is why that it is best to keep it separate. After years of powering the US war machine
during the early-mid 1900’s the views of people eventually evolved to a NO-WAR, Anti-Violence philosophy in the1960’s-1970 era. This was the liberal flower power movement. It was no longer on the agenda to follow the “right-wing” way of life, but rather expand life to be more accommodating to liberal issues such as other religions and choice. Abortion was one of them.
Any politician or public office candidate always will fall subject to the questions of public opinion. Abortion is one of the commonly asked questions; and often the most skated, why? Well because it brings Church vs. State into the picture. Every time that question is brought up, it’s like saying where are you from? In the gang culture. Though nobody gets shot in this dialogue, political careers can go down in flames and quite often the way these questions are approached and answered can determine if your politician has the same values and morals you as an individual share. Will you vote for someone who has the opposite view in life? Most likely not.
Everything boils down to votes.
If you say what people want to hear you win! The devil is always in the details. The Church is not perfect nor a direct descendent of GOD in any manner. As the law is interpreted by the judicial branch in government, the word of the bible is to be interpreted responsibly by the Church. The Church gives faith and moral direction to people as without it we are all but lost. A world with no order is just that, a world of chaos. Religion brings balance and helps us decipher right from wrong and at times “right from left”. This can at times cause public opinion to clash. Stem Cell research is a perfect example of religious intervention and influence in politics on how the science may be administered in this world because of its sensitive meddling of GOD and Nature. The Vatican and Christian Lobbyists have campaigned worldwide against the use even with all the pro-benefits it can bring to society to help us overcome disease and illnesses traditional medicine cannot
remedy.
As humans, we naturally strive to excel in everything we do, whether it works with or against public opinion. Life will coincidentally evolve to new ideals and ways to conform. Democratic, Socialist, Islamic or Monarchist governments will always have a power struggle when it comes to morals and values. Today Iran and America will never see eye to eye when it comes to human rights, women’s rights, freedom of speech, etc. Religion is no different when its numbers rise into power. Thus, the separation of church and state is vital in protecting the public’s freedom. It is not a question of whether of how we choose to worship in America, it our civic responsibility to leave our religious viewpoints out of government agenda.