Preview

Secularism In America Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
378 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Secularism In America Essay
Secularism may feign impartiality when it really is promoting doubt and skepticism of our faith. The dysfunction and ever-increasing diversity of American culture, in my opinion, is our inability to appreciate a deeper cause. Throughout history, we have witnessed that the culture in America does not always embrace religion. Even so, that does not mean that God is not present in those things labeled as “secular.” Psalms 24:1 (KJV) says, “The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Even though we have distorted this law, due to the fall (Genesis 3), we may know His truth and be able to distinguish between right and wrong; through His commandments and revelation. Until the Lord comes again, …show more content…
The Constitution of the United States reflects the founder’s views of a secular government by which the freedom of any belief is protected. The first amendment protects the believer who is free to practice his religion or non-belief. As a nation, we should continue to build upon this principle. This idea seeks to promote a balanced culture in which the people are encouraged to have their own freedom of conscience, and would be loved and respected for those differences regardless. We are not perfect and only through God’s grace can we be saved. Christ forgave us far beyond what we deserve therefore, we must endeavor to forgive others in the same way. In the future, the American way of life will champion those who resolve to love their neighbors, embrace their enemies, and reward the meek and humble. The principles of this balanced culture will champion those Americans from the many secular, Christian, religious, and non-religious groups who seek to leave the world in a better state than they found it. As Christians, we must extend grace so that perhaps, over time, a greater sense of community, fellowship, and love for one another can bring about balance within our

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Not The Final CHHII 665

    • 4222 Words
    • 14 Pages

    “Religious Liberty” is a good and perfect gift.1 Contrary to populace belief, the expression “separation of church and state” did not originate with the ACLU but with the British Baptists. The honorable hunger for “religious liberty” was a God-given desire that led them to America.2 They arrived in America and carried religious freedom cupped with the horrors associated with coercive religious. They envision a country in which Christians, of different persuasion, could live in brotherly love and shared society and civil affairs. The British Baptists were true defenders of “religious liberty,” for all men, i.e., Turkish, Jewish, Buddist or any other religion.3 Their goal was not merely tolerance but only aimed at absolute, “religious liberty.”4…

    • 4222 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    This abstract reading written by Robert N. Bellah, introduces the idea of a “Civil Religion” and argues that, apart from the normal religious traditions our nation follows, there is an unrecognized “Civil Religion” that becomes evident during national crisis or during high public ceremony. According to Bellah, “there actually exists alongside of and rather clearly differentiated from the churches an elaborate and well-institutionalized civil religion in America.” Bellah points out many different examples to prove his point of how “Civil Religion” has been expressed throughout history. First Bellah points out that every president since Washington has mentioned God in his inaugural speech. Next he points out that the presidents did not refer to any religion in particular. They did not refer to Jesus Christ, or to Moses, or to the Christian church. Last a significant point that Bellah makes refers to the Civil war and “Civil Religion”.…

    • 641 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Secular Humanism, alternatively known as humanism, “involves an affirmation of immanent, this-worldly realities, alone with a denial or exclusion of transcendent, other-worldly realities”. Secular Humanism is its own belief system of rejecting God when man chooses to no longer be a subservient to a higher, supernatural authority. It is noted as a worldview and lifestyle oriented to the ungodly rather than the spiritual. Norman Richard describes man as “piece of work” which is ultimately called humanism. “If a human being is ‘a piece of work’, this suggests a workman who fashioned us – presumably a divine creator”. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of secular humanism, followed by an evaluation of objective criteria of…

    • 139 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    I have recently read the article Americans Get an ‘F’ in Religion by Cathy Lynn Grossman and the message that it is trying to give out to the reader is quite simple. The article is basically saying that people in America are quite ignorant of world religions. According to the text, not knowing about religions is treacherous. “Americans' deep ignorance of world religions — their own, their neighbors' or the combatants in Iraq, Darfur or Kashmir — is dangerous” said by Stephen Prothero, chairman of the religion department at Boston University. Cathy Lynn Grossman wrote this article in order to get Americans to realize this. The goal is to encourage the people of America to at least learn some basics of religions and what separates each from others. "Religions aren't all saying the same thing. That's presumptuous and wrong. They start with different problems, solve the problems in different ways, and they have different goals." said by Prothero. The article may have been written in the year 2006 or 2007, when President Bush was in office because it reference that activities in Iraq were still happening. This correlates on why…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Secularists think that they have the accurate view of the United States. They are persuaded that United States should be a godless or secular state. They deem that religion was not an important aspect in the formation of the United States Constitution. This confirms that the Constitution farmers did not like religion to have any influence on the public policy. According to them religion and politics do not mix. Thus, religion and government should be kept far away from each other. There are a number of historical facts that are used by the secularists to prop up their views. Actually, the most significant historical fact is the absence of "God" in the constitution of United States. They say that this absence is extremely important. Secularists are persuaded that the absence of "God" confirms that there ought to be a strict division of state and…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Early American society was greatly influenced by Christianity and secular thinkers alike. Our founders formed their revolutionary ideas and embodied them in our constitution. But to deny the fundamental Christian principles that helped found our country would be a travesty. The fundamentals of Christianity and secular thinkers worked in concert with each other to form a unique ideology that made our country prosperous and helped us develop one of the most unique and lasting forms of government. These ideas were woven into a masterful document that has survived the test of time and continues to support and guide our modern country today. We can trace these unique ideas back to a handful of profoundly brilliant farmers, bar owners, and merchants…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mayflower Belief

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed. No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.” Webster has had one of the largest impacts on the english language, but not many people knew of his love for politics and his hope for our countries future, gearing towards a Christian principles. Charles Hodge, a descendant of Benjamin Franklin proposed a new point of view to this topic. “If a man goes to China, he expects to find the government there administered according to the religion of the country. If he goes to to Turkey, he expects to find the Koran supreme and regulating all public action. If he goes to a Protestant county, he has no right to complain, should he find the Bible in the ascendancy and exerting its benign influence not only on the people, but also on the government.” For hundreds of years we have had the traditions of Christian principles in America, we pledge allegiance “Under God” on a daily basis. Our presidents lay their right hand upon the Bible and recite an oath into office every four years. Money that we spend so frivolously bears the trade mark “In God We Trust.” We sing anthems and hymnals “God Bless America” and “The Star Spangled Banner” before…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion Vs Secularism

    • 307 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Secularism is the principle of the separation of government and religion. Secularism offers comfort for people because it respects individuals and groups of which they are a part. It provides equality of all people because it does not provide privileges or special protection to religious people. When religion is absent, it creates an area of neutrality and welcomes others to come. This making…

    • 307 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Theoretical approaches in general help us understand the concepts of religion that both our society has created and societies before ours. Two theoretical approaches to “religion” that would help understand ancient cultures would be Archaeology and History. Archaeologist would look closely at artifacts and past civilizations to understand the way they practice or believed in religion. Where as Historians would examine the language that was spoke, which would then correlate to the stories being told and the texts that came from a specific culture, traditions and decrees. Many may say that the archaeological approach to understanding religion has more evidence since the way these individuals look at religion have tangible objects opposed to the…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In contrast to the secular humanists belief that humans have evolved from non-living matter (Hindson & Caner, 2008), Christians are confident that although we were created from nothingness it was God who created man and breathed life into…

    • 634 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    On January 6, 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his “State of the Union Address,” in which he gave four essential human freedoms that everyone, everywhere must possess: Freedom to worship, freedom of speech, freedom from fear and freedom from want. He states these freedoms to be “a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation.” Roosevelt gives the idea that with these four freedoms, people are able to successfully work together in a civilized society. However, there are many instances today where these important freedoms are being challenged, or withheld from the American people. More specifically, people are being challenged on their freedom to worship, or freedom of religion. Freedom of religion is the…

    • 1351 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Compare and contrast the motivating factors of religious freedom and economic gain in establishing successful colonies.…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees citizens their right to practice any religion they wish without persecution today, but many years ago when this country was made up of only 13 colonies on the east coast, that was often times not the case. It’s surprising how many were not tolerant of religions different from their own because the main reason why people fled to America was to escape religious persecution. In Britain, the Anglican Church ruled over the country as there was no separation of church and state. Anyone who believed different from the Church was punished severely, so many traveled to America to seek refuge. Colonies were established with…

    • 965 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lutherans were like no other American Christian denomination; their national origin did play an important role in their history. Members came from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway. The Lutherans settled on the East Coast and American Midwest, and celebrated worship services in their native tongues.…

    • 1114 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    America is built upon a few basic freedoms, one of these being the freedom of religion. However, some seem to have forgotten this as more and more we hear about crimes against religious institutions. For someone to attack a peaceful congregation out of spite or ignorance is appalling, and yet this is the reality growing around us. Even individuals seem to have taken carrying out what they see as “religious justice” into their own hands, often hiding behind their first amendment to freedom of speech. I experienced one such case one day outside a mall when a man began harassing a young woman for expressing her faith through wearing a hijab.…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays