Essay Example on Religious Freedom: The Contested Right in the US

Topics that stem from religious freedom have been contested hotly severally in our neighborhoods and the Supreme Court. In the US, we greatly value freedom of religion as inscribed in the First Amendment of the constitution that says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (U.S. Const. amend. I). The freedom of religion falls within our rights, yet, despite the long-standing commitments to dissent and pluralism, the very concept of freedom of religion has turned out to be a highly charged legal and political battleground for over two and a half decades (Levy, 2017). Some of the landmark religious cases to have been heard and determined in the Supreme Court include Christian Legal Society v. Martinez (2010), Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation (2007), Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal (2006) amongst others (Lawrence, 2011). Despite all these cases, it is a fact; religion plays a massive role in our society. Thus, this paper highlights the role of religion in our community, based on the actions of the Supreme Court in the USA.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Religion acts as a protector of democracy. Religious organizations stand as mediating institutions to shield organizations or individuals against the might impositions of the government (Gordon, 1964). Religious freedom is an essential avenue for stability and peace in the pluralistic world we are cohabiting. Religion is a protector of conscience, which is an ingredient for peace and stability since it assists persons from a broad spectrum to have beliefs of assurance that their values and concerns are protected and respected. Religion brings good moral behavior to our nation since religious organizations instill right and wrong virtues in their faithfuls (Johnstone, 2015). America's civilization is centered on morality, and thus, civilization cannot exist without religion. The society we are dwelling cannot be held together primarily by law, but most importantly, by those individuals who obey voluntarily because they have internalized the norms of correct behavior and righteous emanating from religious institutions. Finally, our robust private sector's charitable works all originated from religious organizations. Religious impulses and institutions are sponsoring Even some works in our charities. Some of these institutions being funded include hospitals, educational centers, feeding programs for the homeless, and care for the poor (Wuthnow, 1988).

Therefore, the role of religion in our country remains indispensable. Religion in today's world remains to be the most precious thing to be inherited by our society. To preserve the religion inheritance, we all need a renewed respect from all stakeholders for religious liberty compounded with democratic principles aid. Religion is an asset to our society and it should be protected at all costs.

References

Gordon, M. M. (1964). Assimilation in American life: The role of race, religion, and national origins. Oxford University Press on Demand.

Johnstone, R. L. (2015). Religion in society: A sociology of religion. Routledge.

Lawrence, B. (2011). The First Amendment in the Multicultural Climate of Colleges and Universities: A Story Ending with Christian Legal Society v. Martinez. Hastings Const. LQ, 39, 629.

Levy, L. W. (2017). The establishment clause: Religion and the First Amendment. UNC Press Books.U.S. Const. amend. I.

Wuthnow, R. (1988). The restructuring of American religion: Society and faith since World War II. Princeton University Press.