Religion & Politics Test

What were the primary differences between the Old Lights and the New Lights?

"New Lights," who embraced the new evangelical spirit, and "Old Lights," who were more traditional. Certain new denominations —especially the Baptists —grew rapidly. New universities sprouted up to promote the ap- 3° FOUHDIU O FAIT H proach, including Princeton, Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth. In colony after colony, these proto-evangelicals turned against the dominant religious hierarchies.

Review Table 2.3. What do the data seem to indicate about American attitudes regarding religion and politics?

54% of americans think churches should keep out of political matters Should churches come out in favor of a candidate? 70% think NO Should religious leaders influence government decisions? 66% said NO

Everson v. Board of Education 1947

A New Jersey law allowed reimbursements of money to parents who sent their children to school on buses operated by the public transportation system. Children who attended Catholic schools also qualified for this transportation subsidy. No. A divided Court held that the law did not violate the Constitution. After detailing the history and importance of the Establishment Clause, Justice Black argued that services like bussing and police and fire protection for parochial schools are "separate and so indisputably marked off from the religious function" that for the state to provide them would not violate the First Amendment. The law did not pay money to parochial schools, nor did it support them directly in anyway. It was simply a law enacted as a "general program" to assist parents of all religions with getting their children to school. Incorporate the establishment clause ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE EVERSON V BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHOOL BUSSES WERE OK TO BE SUBSIDIZED GET ON THE MAGIC EVERSON SCHOOL BUS WOOP WOOP WHITE EVERSON SXHOOL BUSS?!

The authors argue that "The naive model of secularization cannot withstand the facts"(p. 9). Outline the evidence they provide to defend this argument.

Religion has not died off as was predicted by the naive model of secularization - it persists - the united states is a huge exception to the general rule.

Who were Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams? Why are they important to the story?

Two of the most famous to be purged for faulty theology were Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams. Hutchinson was a reputable Boston matron who began holding meetings after church to discuss the day's sermons or the Bible. It was deemed a direct assault on the official church. Theologically, she believed that the Puritans emphasized good works too much and put insufficient emphasis on grace. She was brought before the general court, where her accusers were also her judges. She declared that the local clergy lacked inspiration from God, and asked what laws she'd broken. The fifth commandment, they said, since she was disobeying the church and state and therefore, metaphorically, her father and mother. When she retorted that even children should disobey parents when they are immoral, Governor John Winthrop responded, "We do not mean to discourse with those of your sex." They became io FOUNDIN G FAIT H more enraged when she told them that she had directly heard the voice of God.58 She was banished—first by the church, then by the civil magistrate — and moved to New York, where she died during an Indian massacre. Roger Williams was, in many ways, just as conservative as those in Massachusetts 's ruling order. But he believed that the church had become corrupt in a number of ways. The settlers had been unfair to the Indians, he said, and while he shared the desire to convert them, the New Englanders had simply stolen their lands. Second, he said that church and state needed to be separated or else men of faith would lose their way. Like Hutchinson, he was expelled from Massachusetts for heresy and later became a leader of the Baptists in Rhode Island. And these were just the most famous to be punished. A catalog of judicial rulings in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1644 shows that even small instances of inappropriate speech or thought drew sanctions: A Miss Alice George of Gloucester was to be whipped for calling a fellow a "wicked wretch"; Mr. William Hewes and his son John were fined fifty shillings each for deriding those who sang in the congregation and "for saying that Mr. Whiting preached confusedly.

In spite of his rejection of many Christian beliefs, Adams clearly thought many Christian teachings were invaluable to individuals and society. Give a few examples of hisdefense of Christianity.

Adams's love of Christianity went beyond the theoretical. He believed that God was dictating events. The settlement of America, for instance, was divinely orchestrated, "the opening of a grand Scene and Design of Providence."22 Those who criticize recent presidents for imagining a divine calling might be surprised to learn that Adams thought God had chosen him for his political career and the presidency. "I have been called by Providence to take a larger share in active Life, during the Course of these Struggles, than is agreeable to my Health, my Fortune or my Inclination." After his election to the presidency in 1796, he told Abigail that the results reflected "the voice of God."2 '

As it applies to the United States, why did both modernization theorists and Marxist theorists come to the faulty conclusion that religion's influence in society would steadily decline?

Americans have chosen to keep the core tenants of christianity. Congregations evolve from holy assemblies to community centers that provide opportunities for networking and recreation. Underestimated the need for religion, even in the most advanced societies, and more important the capacity of american religious institutions to adapt to changing circumstances.

Waldman argues thatBenjamin Franklin's beliefs were an amalgam of Puritanism and Deism; that is to say, Franklin "customized"religion (p. 22). What evidence does Waldman provide to support this argument?

At first blush, it seems as if Franklin held a cynical double standard: religion for the ignorant masses and a secular program of moral selfimprovement for elites such as himself. But Franklin was more spiritual than that. Rather than rejecting religion, he customized it. He didn't attend church but continued to write prayers for himself. In 1768, Franklin even rewrote the Lord's Prayer to make it more streamlined and clear. His new version: "Heavenly Father, may all revere thee, and become thy dutiful Children and faithful Subjects; may thy Laws be obeyed on Earth as perfectly as they are in Heaven: Provide for us this Day as thou hast hitherto daily done: Forgive us our Trespasses, and enable us likewise to forgive those that offend us. Keep us out of Temptation, and deliver us from Evil."22

In the preface, the authors distinguish between three approaches to the study of religion: social-scientific, supernatural, natural-scientific. What is the difference between them? Which approach do your authors intend to follow?

Authors intend to embrace a social-scientific approach to religion - explaining religion not in terms of supernatural forces but as an enterprise governed by normal patterns of human behavior. reduce tendency to classify religion as biological trait. Super naturalists - survival of religion as gods will Natural-scientific - Persistence of religion attributed in society to the sound dietary principles and healthy lifestyles of believers.

Cantwell v. Connecticut 310 1940

Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296 (1940), was a United States Supreme Court decision that incorporated or applied to the states, through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the First Amendment's protection of religious free exercise. Did the solicitation statute or the "breach of the peace" ordinance violate the Cantwells' First Amendment free speech or free exercise rights? Yes. In a unanimous decision, the Court held that while general regulations on solicitation were legitimate, restrictions based on religious grounds were not. Because the statute allowed local officials to determine which causes were religious and which ones were not, it violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. FIRST AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENDS CANTELL WAS ABLE TO PREACH HIS RELIGIOUS MESSAGE AS HE SEES FIT CANT I PREACH WELL? YES I CAN

Regarding the institutional interests of religious organizations, the authors argue: "While ostensibly acting on behalf of the public good, all are simultaneously institutions with more narrow economic and ideological interests as well" (p. 127).Discuss the examples cited to defend this argument.

Catholic hospitals and universities have lobbied against an obama decision to mandate birth control coverage. An example of this would be the evangelic and republican understanding - they want to get the best deal

In the preface, the authors state the argument that ties all chapters together. What is this argument?

Central argument of this book remains that religion is more important in American politics than most people realize, but in different ways than they imagine. Religious influences are visible in all aspects of political life - the ideas about politics we entertain, the behavior of political elites and ordinary citizens, the interpretation of public laws, and the development of governmental programs.

Describe the religious motivations behind Christopher Columbus discovery and exploration of the new world.

Christopher Columbus believed the world would soon end. In the year 1652, to be exact, Christ would return and usher in a glorious new Kingdom —ff certain prophecies were fulfilled before then. Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492 was one such event, he wrote later, a clear "fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied." He was quite certain that God had guided him. "With a hand that could be felt, the Lord opened my mind to the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies." Another precondition for Jesus's return was the conquest of Jerusalem, which was held by the Muslims. His voyages to the New World would help with that, too, providing a glorious model to inspire Christian warriors, and the gold to pay their way. Finally, his discovery of the new lands would enable Christians to fulfill another essential requirement, the spreading of the Good News to all corners of the world. 4 FOUNDIN O FAIT H "The Gospel must now be proclaimed to so many lands in such a short time," Columbus explained to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.1

Why was religion an important element in Adams's view of a rightly ordered political system, especially a republic such as the United States?

Clearly Adams balanced a noisy mix of feelings about religion. As the colonies became estranged from Great Britain, he focused on another facet of faith: the important role it must play if America were to become an independent republic. Under monarchy, wickedness can be controlled by force. But in a democracy, the goodness of ordinary people becomes essential. "The best republics will be virtuous," he wrote in his Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States.24 And without religion, virtue could not flourish —because, while Adams didn't believe in original sin, he surely did believe in sin. "When men are given up to the rule of their passions, they murder like weasels for the pleasure of murdering, like bulldogs and bloodhounds in a fold of sheep," he wrote.25 Religion was the only thing that could tame our savage natures. "I look upon Religion as the most perfect System," he wrote Abigail.26 Its perfection as a "system" derived from its capacity to regulate behavior cradle-to-grave. Christianity takes the "great principle of law of nature and nations" —namely, "Love your neighbor as yourself"—and spreads it to all 3§ FOUNDIN O FAIT H manner of people, "children, servants, women and men." Religion makes good citizens. "No other institution for education, no kind of political discipline could diffuse this kind of necessary information, so universally among the ranks and descriptions of citizens." It wasn't just a matter of repetition or exhortation. Religion had the most effective system of incentives ever invented, the promise of salvation for those who followed the golden rule and damnation for those who didn't. "Prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude, are thus taught to be the means and conditions of future as well as present happiness."27 (Conversely, he believed that without an afterlife, this life would be meaningless. "Let it once be revealed or demonstrated that there is no future state, and my advice to every man, woman, and child, would be, as our existence would be in our own power, to take opium.")28

According to Waldman, many American leaders expressed toleration toward Catholics in an attempt to recruit France to the American cause. Give a few examples of this effort.

Congress heaped praise on France; even John Adams, in correspondence with his wife, began to admit grudging admiration for their religion. He'd attended Catholic Mass in Brussels and concluded that he might have been a tad "rash and unreasonable" earlier in "cursing the knavery of the priesthood and the brutal ignorance of the people."12 Governor Greene of Rhode Island declared a public day of prayer for France, and Massachusetts followed suit. When French officials invited members of Congress to attend services at the new Catholic church in Philadelphia, several did their duty.13 When a Catholic Spanish agent died while visiting Washington's headquarters, officials were even invited to assist at Mass. Though some objected —Benjamin Rush "declined attending as not compatible with the principles of a Protestant"—others did, and one participant, Ebenezer Hazard, described excitedly that the service included "not only Papists but Pres- HOL T WA R 6? byterians, Episcopalians, Quakers etc. . . ." Hazard enthused that he'd witnessed "the minds of people so unfettered with the shackels of bigotry."14 On May 5, 1778, after the alliance with France was finalized, Washington declared that it was God's work.1

The authors identify three particular Puritan beliefs that found their way into American political thought. They are: (1) covenant theology; (2) total depravity; (3) a chosen people. Discuss the main features of each of these Puritan beliefs.

Covenant Theology - The concept that citizens owe allegiance to governments that respect their inalienable rights and liberties, also the right to revolt against governments is taken from a puritan theology - THE COVENANT TOTAL DEPRAVITY - The puritan emphasis on the inherent sinfulness of humankind - strong theme in protestant thought - provided principles of governance that the founders observed in constructing their constitution. CHosen people means that american people are divinely protected. washington believed this

The authors orient their study of religion and politics around three "faces"of religion (p. 25). They are: creed, institution, and social/cultural group. How do your authors define each of these terms?

Creed - Fundamental beliefs, ideas, ethical codes, and symbols associated with a religious tradition including what others call a theology or belief system Institution - Religious communities are represented in concrete form by specialized institutions, denominations Social/cultural group - subculture or community of believers, common culture, congregation, might not always coincide with church ideas itself

McCollum v. Board of Education

Did the use of the public school system for religious classes violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause? Yes. The Court held that the use of tax-supported property for religious instruction and the close cooperation between the school authorities and the religious council violated the Establishment clause. Because pupils were required to attend school and were released in part from this legal duty if they attended the religious classes, the Court found that the Champaign system was "beyond question a utilization of the tax-established and tax-supported public school system to aid religious groups and to spread the faith." Religion sermons in school is unconstitutional. MCCOLLUM V BOARD OF EDUCATION MADE IT SO RELIGIOUS CLASSES WOULD NO LONGER BE ALLOWED IN CLASSES. NO TAX SUPPORTED RELIGION MCCOLLUM GOLLUM HATES RELIGIOUS CLASSES MCGOLLUM HATES SITTING DOWN FOR CLASSES

Reynolds v United States 1879

Does the federal anti-bigamy statute violate the First Amendment's free exercise clause because plural marriage is part of religious practice? No. Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite, writing for a unanimous court, held that the statute can punish criminal activity without regard to religious belief. The First Amendment protected religious belief, but it did not protect religious practices that were judged to be criminal such as bigamy. Those who practice polygamy could no more be exempt from the law than those who may wish to practice human sacrifice as part of their religious belief. RYAN REYNOLDS BIGAMY IS ILLEGAL

The last section of the chapter is devoted to cautioning the reader not to assign religion too high a place in the creation of American political culture and institutions. Two additional influences are given much credit: The Enlightenment and economic forces. With this in mind, review the role played by each of these in the formation of American political culture.

ENLIGHTENMENT -Foremost intellectual rival to the idealogoly of the protestant reformation was the enlightenment. BODY OF THOUGHT DEVELOPED IN 17th and 18th century EUROPE - the founders used this model to construct a democratic system ECONOMIC FORCES - Entrepeanours, cheap land, taxation, raw materials, sources of labors, markets

Review Figure 2.1 on page 28.

EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT - 30% SECULAR - 21% Mainline protestant - 18% Catholic - 20%, black protestant - 10% Jewish 1%

Explain the difference between formal religion and informal religion.

Formal religion - official, institutional, or organized, compromises official religious doctrines that are determined by specialized religious organizations and implemented by trained clergy Informal religion - the layer beneath the official religion - popular religion, pragmatic needs, healing emotional security, material wishes

What was his view of the authorship of the Bible? Benjamin Franklin

Franklin rejected claims that the Bible was penned by the Almighty and, although he admired Jesus's teachings, said that "I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his Divinity."24 This has led some to say he was an atheist, which he was not. That he would go through the trouble of writing his own prayers showed a real spiritual conscientiousness. He spent countless hours trying to find a path that connected him with the divine while avoiding the parts of organized religion he found repellent.

Who was George Whitefield, and why is he an important part of America's religious history?

George Whitefield, the evangelical preacher who revolutionized faith in America and shook the foundation of established religion; Whitefield was the most important leader in the period known as the Great Awakening, and Spring undoubtedly wanted help from the preacher's divine connections when the men faced combat. Moreover, it was fitting that Whitefield, or bits of him, would be dragged into battle because—to a degree seldom acknowledged in textbooks—the evangelical revival he led helped lay the groundwork for American independence and the triumph of religious liberty. Benjamin Franklin helped him Most important, Whitefield was brutal in his criticism of the Church of England and its colonial outposts. He challenged their pettiness, stodginess, and lethargy about moral evils. "The reason why congregations have been so dead," he declared, "is because they have dead men preach them."10 So as the New Lights multiplied, the colonies began to fill with men and women hostile to one of the most visible institutions of England.

What did George Washington think about"Catholic-bashing"

George Washington, however, rejected the Catholic-bashing, not so much on philosophical grounds as for practical reasons. As commander of the Continental army, he believed that unless he could neutralize Canada, he couldn't protect New England and New York from British invasions from the north. Washington hoped he could cut off this British northern front by rallying the Canadian people—especially the French Canadians living in Quebec—to a continentwide democratic revolt against the British Crown. He therefore launched an "expedition" (sometimes referred to as an "invasion") to Canada under the command of Colonel Benedict Arnold.

Waldman argues that "[John] Adams came to reject major parts of orthodox Christian theology"(p. 35). What evidence does he provide to defend this argument?

He was unwilling to accept that Adam's bite of the apple "damned the whole human Race, without any actual Crimes committed by any of them."8 After hearing a dinner companion defend as "mysterious" the idea that Jesus's crucifixion saved us from our sins, Adams wrote in his diary, "Thus mystery is made a convenient cover for absurdity."9 The idea of the Trinity was illogical. "Miracles or Prophecies might frighten Us out of our Witts; might scare us to death; might induse Us to lie; to say that We believe that 2 and 2 make 5. But We should not believe it."10

What impact did the colonial attacks on the Church of England have on religious liberty for all faiths?

If it seems today a bit strange that a war against a Protestant King George III could be cast as a fight against Catholicism, this was a paradox apparent to some British at the time. Describing the Quebec Act as the turning point, General Thomas Gage puzzled over how colonists had become convinced that Britain would eliminate their religious freedom. When they could not "be made to believe the contrary .. . the Flame [of rebellion] biased out in all 52 FOUNDIN G FAIT H Parts." Ambrose Serle, who served as secretary to Admiral Lord Richard Howe from 1776 to 1778, reported to his superiors that "at Boston the war is very much a religious war." Not surprisingly, over the years some Britons have chafed over the idea that the Revolution was about lofty concepts of freedom. In 1912, the English cardinal Gasquet flatly declared that "the American Revolution was not a movement for civil and religious liberty; its principal cause was the bigoted rage of the American Puritan and Presbyterian ministers at the concession of full religious liberty and equality to Catholics of French Canada." Yes, he noted, people were upset by taxation, but that could have been resolved if not for the "Puritan firebrands and the bigotry of the people."58

Explain the main argument put forward by Max Weber in his Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.

In the book, Weber wrote that capitalism in Northern Europe evolved when the Protestant (particularly Calvinist) ethic influenced large numbers of people to engage in work in the secular world, developing their own enterprises and engaging in trade and the accumulation of wealth for investment. In other words, the Protestant work ethic was an important force behind the unplanned and uncoordinated emergence of modern capitalism.[2] In his book, apart from Calvinists, Weber also discusses Lutherans (especially Pietists, but also notes differences between traditional Lutherans and Calvinists), Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, and Moravians (specifically referring to the Herrnhut-based community under Count von Zinzendorf's spiritual lead).

In order for the study of religion and politics to have any validity, the first order of business is to establish a classification system for religion. With this in mind, your authors offer an oft-used "Four-Step Religious Classification" (see Table 2.1, p. 27). Review and be able to briefly explain this classification system.

It begins by listing 4 steps to knowing a religious person. Begins with INDIVIDUAL --- CONGREGATION ----- DENOMINATION --- TRADITION/FAMILY

The authors argue "Religious interests are grounded in religious culture" (p. 113). Explain the impact of religious culture on how people understand political issues and civil society.

It offers identity, prescribes norms, defines boundaries for relationships. divine guidance for all these things is religious culture

Regarding Franklin's personal beliefs:a.What did he believe about the miracles presented in the Bible?

Like Jefferson later, Franklin tended to strip the miracles from his personal liturgy. When he and a friend edited the Apostles' Creed, he sliced out the supernatural and downgraded the importance of the church but retained a clear Theism:

Review Table 2.2. Which denominations score highest on the promotion of social justice (as measured by belief and behavior related to helping others)?

Mainline Protestant and Catholics topped the charts for helping others

The distinction between "mainline" Protestant and "evangelical" Protestant often leads to different priorities and behaviors among adherents. Describe these differences.

Mainline protestants - Stressing jesus' role as a prophet of social justice, mainline sanctifies altruism and regards selfishness as a cardinal sin -bible is seen as archaic Evangelical protestants - obligated above all else to share their creed - bringing others to salvation through a personal embrace of god. the church is a limited community open to those who have attained salvation - sustaining and extending belief is paramount

Define political culture.

how religion interacts with politics Political culture is the set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments which give order and meaning to a political process and which provide the underlying assumptions and rules that govern behavior in the political system. It encompasses both the political ideals and the operating norms of a polity.

The authors describe American civil religion as a"double-edged sword" (p. 60). With this in mind: a.What are the dangers in a civil religion that fails to strike a healthy balance between the priestly function and the prophetic function? b.How do other nations and their peoples often respond to American civil religion, especially when expressed in terms of American exceptionalism? c.What are the dangers in over-emphasizing the virtues of the American nation?

One must balance the priestly and prophetic impulses. PRIESTLY can ascribe divine warrant and sacred purpose to idolatrous worship of the state, and condone horrible acts. Conversely, American civil religion aka exceptionalism is seen as irritating by other countries, they are seen as us being condenscending, that we are denying our sinfulness. It can also condone wars c - our virtues can sometimes lead the us to diminish other countries that dont meet our standards, which in turn can lead to conflict. you cant go too far and see the us as horrible - there must be a balance

What impact did the growing religious diversity of the American colonists have on the development of religious liberty?

Part of the sudden appreciation of Catholics stemmed from the desire to win France as an ally. Congress heaped praise on France; even John Adams, in correspondence with his wife, began to admit grudging admiration for their religion. He'd attended Catholic Mass in Brussels and concluded that he might have been a tad "rash and unreasonable" earlier in "cursing the knavery of the priesthood and the brutal ignorance of the people."12

The authors write, "Taken together, then, these sources of error warn us against treating the results of religious classification as anything more than good estimates" (p. 27). To which sourcesof error are the authors referring?

Participants may answer with something specific or general, responses may leave little clues about denomination. some dont know what they belong to, families may not share same denomination, they might be a part of one just because they are in the family.

What is "god-talk" (p. 126)? What have some researchers concluded about its impact on presidential elections?

Politicians are expected to talk about their faith, if they dont they are questioned. this god talk is used to evaluate sincerity. Since 1976 whoever has talked about religion the most has won the election. EVEN if it wasnt the most religious.

Which religious "family" represents a majority of the population?

Protestant religious family

Religious affiliation often predicts political affiliation. However, in cases where religious affiliation remains constant, political affiliation often shifts. What does recent research seem to suggest about the connection between these two identities?Pay special attention to Table 2.4 on page 35.

Relatively consistent views

Which religious family represents the "midpoint of the American political spectrum" (p. 36)?

Roman Catholic

Wald and Calhoun-Brown argue that social scientists have been constrained in their study of religion's role in society due to their adherence to several problematic, inadequate models. With this in mind: a.Review the concept of secularization. Be sure to define: differentiation, privatization, desacralization, liberalization. b.Describe the modernization approach to explaining social change. c.Describe Marxism's approach to explaining social change.

Secularization has been called a virtually unchallenged truth of twentieth-century social science - in its most neutral sense - it refers only to changes in religion as society develops. Differentiation - the development of religion as a specialized institution with its own sphere of competence. when religion is differentiated, it surrenders to government responsibility for such fields as law, education, and medicine This encourages the PRIVATIZATION of religion - refers to the evolution of religion into a matter of personal judgement and choice that exerts its most profundity on individuals. Desacralization refers to changes in thought rather than the transformation of religious organizations. tendency to explain the universe in terms of material reality rather than supernatural forces - disenchantment of the world In the religious world, secularization is often equated with liberalization of religious doctrine. the lowering of barriers between religious groups, relaxation of orthodoxy Altogether these processes are secularization. MODERNIZATION approach predicts transformations in life and thought because of the rapid growth of cities; the rise of factory production; education, communication. it states that modern exposure will make religion a minor role in life MARXISMS APPROACH - forecasted religious decline as well, suggested that religion appealed mostly to the oppressed who needed explanation for their plight, opiate of the people

Describe the link between British taxes and the colonial fear of Bishops.

Some colonists even associated the bishops with that outrage of outrages: higher taxes. Establish a system of bishops and, before long, new taxes would be levied to support their lavish lifestyles. Charles Chauncy of Boston said a "large revenue" would be needed to support a "complete church hierarchy, after the pattern of that at home."" The negative reaction against the Townshend Duties flowed in part from Americans who feared that the tax on tea, glass, and paper implied the power to appoint bishops. Antagonism to the church grew when it was noticed that the Anglican missionaries were among the strongest supporters of the much-reviled Stamp Act of 1765, which required the colonists to pay a small tax for legal notices and correspondences. The link between small bits of political or economic tyranny and large principles of religious oppression became strong, at least for some rebels. "The religion and public of liberty of people are so intimately connected, their interests are interwoven, and cannot exist separately," wrote Sam Adams in 1772.34 The main threat to the colonies, he said, was "the utter loss of those religious rights, the enjoyment of which our good forefathers had more especially in their intention, when they explored and settled this new world.""

How did his experience as a soldier impact his religious views and practices?

Still, he wasn't a Deist, either. He believed in an omnipotent and constantly intervening God —one who seemed to protect the nation as a whole and him in particular. As a colonel during the French and Indian War, Washington was in a particularly brutal gun battle, had two horses shot out from under him, and later discovered four bullet holes in his jacket—and yet he had not a scratch. Devout Christians then and now have cited this as evidence of his special place in the eye of God, a view Washington shared:16 "By the all powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation."17

Waldman observes that Adams"never fully turned against state-supported religion as the other Founders did"(p. 38). What evidence does he provide to defend this argument?

Still, there were two inconsistencies that we must return to, because they affected the course of religious freedom. Adams so revered his ancestors that he did not appreciate the contradiction between his love of freedom and their love of repression. As a result, he never fully turned against state-supported religion as the other Founders did. Less than a year before the Declaration of Independence, he wrote to Abigail that he was proud of the New England system of taxpayer-financed religion. The "institutions in New England for the Support of Religion, Morals and Decency, exceed any other," he noted, "obliging every Parish to have a Minister, and every Person to go to Meeting."30 Then there is the question of how one of the most articulate fighters for liberty could be such an anti-Catholic bigot. We need not defend his views to remember that Adams was raised in a Puritan family for whom Catholicism wasn't merely an inferior religion, but in fact the enemy—indirectly, the very reason they had come to America in the first place. For them, Catholicism JOH N ADAM S 39 was tyranny. New England was settled in part by people who thought the Church of England had become too Catholic. Adams's antagonism toward Catholicism was emotionally connected to his suspicion of the Church of England. And as we'll soon see, it was the Church of England that fueled some of his rage against the king of England.

Why did Catholics in Canada react with great suspicion to overtures from the Continental Congress requesting that Canada join the rebellion against the Crown?

The Continental Congress, which had earlier attacked the Quebec Act for helping Catholics, flip-flopped and tried to assist Washington. Just five days after issuing its attack on Catholicism, Congress fired off a letter beseeching the French Canadians to join them in the cause of freedom. The letter urged the Canadians to be suspicious of the Quebec Act's new guarantees of religious liberty for the Catholics. "What is offered to you by the late Parliament?. . . Liberty of conscience in your religion? No. God gave it to you."7 On May 29, 1775, Congress —filled with delegates who hated 66 FOUNDIN G FAIT H Catholicism—concluded that "we perceived the fate of the protestant and catholic colonies to be strongly linked together."8 It was a hilariously abrupt about-face, and the Canadians were suspicious.

Which traditional Christian beliefs did John Adams reject?

The First Parish Church of Quincy, which Adams attended his whole life, would eventually become officially Unitarian.11 He believed Christianity was based on "a revelation" from God but that the true parts have been mixed with "millions of fables, tales, legends" to create "the most bloody religion that ever existed." So grumpy was he about Christianity-as-often-practiced that he even criticized distribution of Bibles to other lands: "Would it not be better, to apply these pious Subscriptions, to purify Christendom from the Corruptions of Christianity; than to propagate those Corruptions in Europe Asia, Africa, and America!"12 Most of all, like Franklin, he was repulsed by the fundamental Protestant doctrine that salvation was determined by only faith—acceptance of Christ as personal savior—rather than deeds. This doctrine was "detestable," "invidious," and "hurtful"—and would "discourage the practice of virtue."" He, too, believed that Christianity ought not be focused on making "good Riddle Solvers or good mystery mongers," but rather creating "good men, good majestrates and good Subjects, Good husbands and good Wives, good Parents and good Children, good masters and good servants." He knew full well that he was abjuring the dominant theology of New England and his childhood, including the Calvinists. "Howel. Snarl, bite, Ye Calvinistick!" he wrote in old age. "Ye will say, I am no Christian: I say Ye are no Christians. There the Account is balanced. Yet I believe all the honest men among you, are Christians in my sense of the Word."14

Explain how colonial religious leaders described the conflict between the colonies and Great Britain. Note the religious aspects of their description.

The Reverend Jonathan Mayhew, a Boston minister who greatly influenced Adams, took a shot. He recalled that King Charles had allowed crimes against God, such as sports on the Sabbath or having "encouraged pa- T H E GODL Y ROOT S OF REBELLIO N 41 pist, and popishly effected clergymen in preference" to more Puritan ministers. When a king "turns tyrant and makes his subjects his prey to devour and to destroy, instead of his charge to defend and cherish, we are bound to throw off our allegiance to him, and to resist."2 Therefore, he and the other patriot clergy preached, God sanctioned war against Britain because He wants us to be free. The fight for liberty was God's fight. And let there be no doubt that the Prince of Peace would want colonists to take up their muskets. In a sermon to commemorate the Boston Massacre, Nathaniel Whitaker of Salem declared that their cause was so just that, should the British again use force against them, "the spirit of Christian beneficence would animate us to fill our streets with blood."3 If they were aligned with God, then the British were, by definition, in league with Satan. "It is the cause of justice . . . and the cause of heaven and against hell—of the kind Parent of the universe, against the prince of darkness, and the destroyer of the human race," declared the Reverend Abraham Keteltas in 1777.4 Historians believe that this period saw a resurgence of "millennial" thinking—many were convinced that the apocalypse and Christ's return were near. Prior to 1763, the part of the Antichrist in this script was played nicely by the French, a Catholic nation.5 With the end of the French and Indian War, many colonists saw the British as taking up the satanic role. The Reverend Samuel Sherwood of Weston, Connecticut, declared in 1776 that the seven-headed beast mentioned in chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation was "the corrupt system of tyranny and oppression, that has been fabricated and adopted by the ministry and parliament of Great Britain."6 Connecticut minister Ebenezer Baldwin said the revolution was "preparing the way for this glorious event."7 Some political cartoons suggested that the stamps colonists were required t

Describe the nature of church-state relations in virginia in the early 1600's, pay special attention to the "Lawes Divine, Morall, and Martiall"

The faiths of the settlers were tested even before they landed in Virginia. One-third of the immigrants on the Godspeed, the Discovery, and the Susan Constant in 1607 died en route. Once in America, their goal of converting Indians soon took a backseat to survival. In 1609 and 1610, the period known as "the starving time," the colony almost perished. Settlers ate dogs, cats, rats, and one another in order to survive. One man was executed for killing his wife for food.' The new "Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall" required worship twice each Sunday. Those who failed to do so would lose their daily allowance; a second infraction would draw a whipping, and the third offense would put them in the galleys at sea for six months. Settlers who failed to observe the Sabbath lost provisions for a week (first offense), received a whipping (second offense), or were executed (third offense). Women convicted of sexual misdeeds were required to wear white gowns, hold white wands, and "stand on chairs or stools during public worship."11 Blasphemy—the use of "unlawful oaths" and "taking the name of God in vain"—was a serious crime, sometimes punishable by having a hot iron plunged through the tongue, and sometimes by execution.12 Eight settlers were put to death in Jamestown for violations of Dale's laws. Though alien to us, the idea behind forced worship was practical: Pervasive worship would secure God's favor and give settlers the strength and moral wherewithal to cope with the crushing burdens of disease, Indian attacks, and internal squabbling. The settlers' other religious goal—that of pulling the Indians from the deep pit of hell —proved harder to meet. Pocahontas's conversion to Christianity was much celebrated and, indeed, is depicted in a painting in the US Capitol to this day. But mostly the settlers just viewed the Indians as untamable savages, and vice versa.18 Moreover, Virginia certainly didn't limit itself to punishing just Catholics and Indians. In 1660, it forbade ship captains from importing Quakers;19 Puritan clergy were banished; and Jews were kept out entirely for two generations.2

Waldman argues that the Great Awakening—its ideas and practices—had a profound impact on American society. What evidence does Waldman provide to defend this argument?

To a degree rarely acknowledged, the American Revolution and the new approach to church and state that resulted were powerfully shaped by the Great Awakening, a period of evangelical resurgence in the mid-seventeenth century led by a crosseyed preacher named George Whitefield. Whitefield and his Great Awakening brethren encouraged colonists to challenge authority. Though their first target was the Miter, the Scepter was not far behind. Religion helped cause and sustain the American Revolution. The efforts to break from the Crown became inextricably tied to the drive to undermine the Church of England, and vice versa. The role of religion could sometimes be grotesque, as when patriots used fear of Catholics to incite rebellion. Other times, faith ennobled. George Washington articulated a vision that called on the active intervention of God in the war but also embraced a broad religious tolerance that transformed the Continental army. After the war, Americans, possessed by the spirit of liberty, pressed to expand freedom of conscience. But they discovered that they disagreed over what that meant. Clearly, the state shouldn't make particular religions illegal anymore. Almost everyone accepted that principle. But could the state help some denominations a bit more than others? For that matter, could government help religion at all? Some of the most important battles were fought in the newly minted states, where men such as Madison and Adams first began INTRODUCTIO N xin articulating their answers to these questions. During this period, a powerful alliance formed between evangelical Christians and some Enlightenment intellectuals. Jefferson and Madison teamed up with fire-and-brimstone preachers like Leland and Isaac Backus to fight the status quo (defended, ironically, by Patrick Henry). The philosophers and the preachers sometimes approached the issue from different directions but sought the same result: a ban on religious oppression and a separation of church and state. They viewed both concepts as connected, challenging the prevailing sentiment that for religion to thrive, it would need state help.

Which colony was specifically established as a Catholic colony?

Then there's the sad saga of Maryland, established explicitly as a refuge for Catholics. An English Catholic convert named George Calvert, aka Lord Baltimore, was given the land grant by King Charles I in 1632 By 1681, Protestants outnumbered Catholics thirty to one in Maryland. In 1689, the Glorious Revolution was under way in England, and rumors of Catholic-Indian plots now spread rapidly. In July, a group calling itself the Protestant Association again seized the Maryland government.68 After that, the Church of England was established and followed patterns similar to those in Virginia, using taxes to build churches, set up vestries, and compensate the Anglican clergy.69 In 1700, the colony prevented Catholics from inheriting or purchasing land and established life imprisonment for priests. Informants who spotted priests saying Mass could get a one-hundred-pound reward. In 1704, it prohibited Catholic worship. In 1715, it required that children of a Protestant father and Catholic mother be forcibly removed from the mother if the father died. The next year, public officeholders were required to swear allegiance to the Church of England; in 1718, Catholics were denied the vote unless they took the same oath.70 So ended Maryland's experiment in religious tolerance.

What role did offers of religious toleration to Hessian mercenaries play in Congress's war strategy?

There was one other way that military necessity spawned tolerance. Roughly one-third of the British ground troops were Hessian mercenaries. They came from a number of principalities in Germany and included Calvinists, Lutherans, Unitarians, and Roman Catholics. Congress adopted a strategy of encouraging defections among the Hessians by promising them citizenship, fifty acres of land, and religious freedom. A congressional resolution pointed out that "after they have violated every Christian and moral precept, by invading, and attempting to destroy, those who have never injured them or their country, their only reward, if they escape death and captivity, will be a return to the despotism of their prince." Alternatively, they could leave the military, settle in a colony, and "be protected in the free exercise of their respective religions."16 On August 14,1776, Congress approved this resolution and distributed thousands of copies, in German, among the troops and on the backs of tobacco wrappers. One historian estimated that somewhere between five and twelve thousand German soldiers defected.17

How do your authors distinguish between "mainline" Protestant and "evangelical" Protestant?

They differ over the 3 S's Scripture, Sin, and Salvation Mainline groups regard Jesus as - a moral teacher who told disciples that they could best honor him by helping those in need Evangelical protestants - treat jesus principally - He offers salvation to anyone who confesses his name

Waldman argues thatBenjamin Franklin's beliefs were an amalgam of Puritanism and Deism; that is to say, Franklin "customized"religion (p. 22). What evidence does Waldman provide to support this argument?

This has led some to say he was an atheist, which he was not. That he would go through the trouble of writing his own prayers showed a real spiritual conscientiousness. He spent countless hours trying to find a path that connected him with the divine while avoiding the parts of organized religion he found repellent. Although he once described himself as a Deist, at other times in his life he embraced the very non-Deistic view that God intervened in the lives of human beings. His system of deputy gods for each solar system implied active divine involvement, as did his later comments at the Constitutional Convention that "God governs in the affairs of men." Acknowledgments of God's power were routinely inserted in his letters as subordinate clauses, as in, "if it please God that I live long enough"25 or "thanks to God, who has preserved all our family in perfect health."25 Each person's talents were "the gift of God" that ought to be used "as if he heard a voice from heaven."27 He appeared to 24 FOUNDIN G FAIT H believe in an afterlife. In a condolence note to a friend, he wrote, "Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals?"28 And, at least later in life, he felt certain he was the beneficiary of God's love. "And, if he loves me, can I doubt that he will go on to take care of me, not only here but hereafter?"29 His true faith was religious pluralism. He wanted a society that was religiously dynamic and relentlessly accepting of differences. This practical — and some would say relativistic—worldview was captured by Franklin in a parody he wrote called "Remarks Concerning the Savages." As he spun the tale, a Swedish diplomat was attempting to teach some Susquehanna Indians stories from the Bible. It seems the Indians listened politely and expressed their appreciation. They then told the diplomat their creation story, prompting the minister to declare it a mere "fable." The Indians, according to Franklin, then accused the Swedish official of lacking "common civility." "You saw that we, who understand and practice those Rules, believed all your stories," the Indians said. "Why do you refuse to believe ours?"30

Outline the "Parsons'Cause."What happened? What conclusions did Patrick Henry advance as a result of this case?

Under a 1696 law, each parson got sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco a year. In normal years T H E GODL Y ROOT S OF REBELLIO N 45 this system worked well, but farmers figured out that in the event of a bad crop —and therefore rising tobacco prices —that same sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco would be worth a lot more. In 1757, drought hit, which meant that while the planters suffered, the pastors made out very well. In the first sign that they needed help with their public relations strategy, some pastors boasted that their good fortune was fair because it was clearly gifted by Providence. The planters didn't see it that way, and got the Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a law setting the tobacco price at two pence per pound, eliminating the parsons' windfall. Sitting in the front of the court, in places of honor, were some twenty parsons in black cloaks from throughout the area. Outraged, they stood up and walked out. The jury deliberated for just five minutes before returning a judgment that the Reverend Maury should be paid one penny. he was against tax collecting anglicans he advanced colonial rights

John Adams's church eventually adopted a set of beliefs called Unitarianism. In hisday, what did Unitarians believe?

Unitarians, as they came to be called by the early 1800s, considered themselves thoroughly Christian, though they rejected Trinitarian doctrine and emphasized Christ's moral teachings more than his gift of salvation. Despite his many complaints about Christianity-as-practiced, Adams effusively praised it as the embodiment of "the eternal, self-existent, independent, benevolent, all powerful and all merciful creator, preserver and father of the universe, the first good, first perfect, and first fair." In fact, he said, Christianity's core principles were so perfect, they must have been of divine origin. "Neither savage nor civilized man, without a revelation, could ever have discovered or invented it."19 He disliked secular humanism and feared JOH N ADAM S 37 that a world without faith would lead to moral mayhem. Commenting on the Deistical writings of Tom Paine, Adams wrote in his diary, "The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity, let the blackguard Paine say what he will."20 Despite his more-than-occasional frustration with religion, Adams never lost a sense of profound idealism about Christianity's potential. If ever a people would actually live by the tenets of the Bible, kindness would prevail; drunkenness, lust, and gluttony would decline, men would not waste time on cards or "trifling amusements," and peace would light the land. A "rational and manly" piety would reign. "What a Eutopia; what a Paradise would this region be!"21

Religious toleration during the Revolutionary War was partly driven by military necessity. With this in mind: a.What strategic goal did Washington hope to accomplish by dampening down anti-Catholic rhetoric and behavior in the Continental army?

Washington knew he had to damp down the antiCatholicism. On September 14,1775, he banned the practice of burning effigies of the pope once a year.2 Moreover, he told Arnold, the troops had to move considerably beyond keeping their bigotry under wraps; they had to convince Catholics that they'd be welcomed into the colonial union and would flourish under the American approach to religious freedom. "Prudence, Policy and true Christian Spirit, will lead us to look with Compassion upon their Errors without insulting them," Washington wrote. His condescending comment about Catholic "errors" notwithstanding, Washington was one of the first to recognize that a revolution based on "liberty" would need to encompass a new approach to religious freedom. "While we are contending for our own Liberty," he wrote, "we should be very cautious of violating the Rights of Conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the Judge of the Hearts of men, and to him only in this Case, they are answerable."'

How did Washington respond to seeing his soldiers celebrating Pope Day?

Washington was not done purging anti-Catholic bias from the ranks. On November 5,1775, he scolded troops in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for celebrating Pope Day. He told them of his "surprise that there should be Officers and Soldiers in this army so void of common sense" as to encourage such a "ridiculous and childish custom," especially when the colonies were soliciting aid from Canadian Catholics.

How did the need for national unity impact Washington's commitment to religious toleration?

Washington's most significant contribution was his commitment to religious tolerance. Time and time again, he chose to promote an almost twentyfirst-century vision of spiritual pluralism. As we'll see in the next chapter, his liberal attitude was largely prompted by the realities of war. Washington led one of the only truly national institutions, the Continental army, and had to grapple earlier than others with the practicalities of nationhood—which principles would unite, and which would divide. Bigotry, in his view, was impractical.

Concerning George Washington: How did his genteel Virginia lifestyle impact his religious views and practices?

What do the knowable facts show? A portrait not likely to satisfy either extreme in the culture war—a deeply spiritual man who believed God was protecting him and the nation, and who yet showed disinterest in and sometimes disdain for important facets of Christianity. Most important, he exhibited an unusual—-and world-historic —sense of tolerance that would have a profound impact on the evolution of religious freedom. Was Washington a "good Christian"? By the definition of Christianity offered by contemporary liberal Christians, he would pass muster. He believed in God, attended church, endorsed the golden rule, and valued the behavioral 6o FOUNDIN G FAIT H benefits of religion. More conservative Christians, however, generally believe that being a good Christian means accepting Jesus Christ as personal savior and the Bible as God's revelation. By those standards—those of twenty-firstcentury conservative evangelical Christianity—Washington was not Christian. Reluctant to talk about Jesus

Why did he believe that religion and morality were necessary for the success of republican government?

Whatever the cause, Washington's approach to religious tolerance represented a significant departure from earlier generations. At one point, he surveyed all the possible causes of America's greatness and highlighted just two. The first was the "cheapness of land," which allowed for much of the population to become property owners. The second was "civil and religious" liberty, which "stand perhaps unrivalled by any civilized nation of earth."" Long before Emma Lazarus welcomed the tired and poor, Washington declared that the "bosom of America [was] open to receive, the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions, whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges." After describing the perils of political factions and internal strife, and praising the system of checks and balances designed to ameliorate those tensions, he said that the most important safeguards were religion, morality, and virtue. "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. . . . Reason and experience both for- GEORG E WASHINGTO N 61 bid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."20 Washington's mo

What was the main difference between Pilgrims and Puritans?

While religion was a factor in Jamestown, it was the impetus for Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth and the Puritans who settled in Massachusetts Bay. Again, the motivation was not promotion of Christianity in general but Protestantism specifically. Puritans believed that despite Henry VIIFs split with Rome, the Church of England had retained too many vestiges of the Catholic Church. "Kneeling at the Sacrament, bowing to the Altar and to the name of Jesus, Popish holy days, Holiness of places, Organs and Cathedral Musick, The Books of Common prayer, or church Government by Bishops . . . They are nothing else but reliques of Popery, and remnants of Baal," CHRISTIA N AMERIC A 7 sniffed one prominent Puritan.21 They viewed the Anglican ministers as ungodly and incompetent. In a petition to Parliament, one Puritan called the clergy "Dumrae Dogs . . . Destroying Drones, or rather Caterpillars of the Word."22 Worst of all, the Church of England seemed to let in as a congregant any damned sinner who requested entry. The Pilgrims were Puritans who had become "Separatists" because they believed that the Church of England was so corruptly entangled with Catholicism that nothing short of a clean break would suffice. They had left England and sought religious refuge in Holland. Their sense of mission was biblical: William Bradford, in his journal from Plymouth Plantation, compared these settlers to those cast out of Israel. "Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice, and looked on their adversity."25 Sailing aboard the Mayflower in 1620, the Pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact, committing themselves to "ye glory of God, and advancement of ye Christian faith. Though the Pilgrims landed the starring roles in future Thanksgiving celebrations, it was the Puritans who thrived economically, took over Massachusetts, profoundly influenced American religious history. (One historian estimated that in all thirteen colonies, Puritanism "provided the moral and religious background of fully 75% of the people who declared their independence in 1776.")2

According to the text, what projection is made for the Protestant share of religious affiliation over the next thirty years?

Will drop below 40% in thirty years largely due to demographics

Regarding civil religion: a.What do scholars mean by the term civil religion?b.What role does the idea that America is God's chosen nation play in civil religion? c.What is the difference between the "priestly" function of civil religion and the "prophetic" function? According to the text, which president best expressed these two functions? d.How do George W. Bush and Barack Obama differ in their invocation of American exceptionalism?

a - Civil religionAmerican political rhetoric is infused with religious symbols and references, couched in moral values. To some scholars, this proves, along with religious symbols and text, proves the existence of a civil religion. HEART OF IT - Nation tries to understand its historical experience and national purpose in religious terms civil religion reflects an attempt by citizens to imbue greater meaning into a nations existence c-PRIESTLY- asserting the established doctrine of the civil religion PROPHETIC - doomsday prophets. OBAMA served as a more prophetic exceptionalist by saying america was founded on a set of ideals, but it sometimes doesnt live up to GWB talked about america in priestly rhetoric, AMERICAS WAY IS GODS WAY ABRAHAM LINCOLN DID BOTH THE BEST <<<<<

Regarding the early formation of American political culture, the authors argue: "In the century and a half that elapsed between the establishment of the first permanent English settlements on the North American continent and the founding of the republic, the theology of the Reformation was continually adapted to the American situation" (p. 41). With this in mind:a.The Reformation spawned many different theological traditions. According to the authors, which of these theologies was most important in creating an American political philosophy? b.The authors also suggestthat this theology was "adapted to the American situation" (p. 41). What evidence do the authors give to prove this adaptability?

a - Protestant Christianity aka religious revival - they acted as if the british empire was the antichrist puritans too Reformation was continually adapted to the american situation. biblical tradition seems to have greatly influenced those who crafated the american revolution and constitution . bible was referenced the most of all. public declarations of faith. religion helped develop national unity. cooped the revolutionary war as a religious conflict

Regarding religion's role in American social and political life:a.What do your authors mean by the phrase "American exceptionalism in religion"(p. 20)? b.What explanations are given for this exceptionalism?

a) the huge amount of people who identify as religious, usually been attributed to cultural comparability, a need for social identity, the independence of religion from the state, and competitive religious environment

d.What are the dangers of over-emphasizing the failures of the American nation? e.What impact does the imbalance between the priestly form of civil religion and prophetic form have on the religion's role in American politics?

a- if you overemphasize the US failures, they are seen as evil and causes the united states to disarm itself - which is what happens when critics after WWI told the US off e-the strains are there, but sometimes not as prominent depending on the president. The more prophetic obama challenged americans while BUSH reassured them source of conflict rather than concensus

What are "image of God" studies(p. 121)? Using the examples cited in the text, what have these studies found?

conservative approach to politics, image of god studies have confirmed that the perception of a stern and vengeful deity is linked to political conservatism, liberalism is a loving god

The authors argue, "Those who would insist on drawing too strong a connection between religious orientations and particular forms of political belief should remember the many exceptions to the rule" (p. 122-123). Describe these exceptions.

conservative scripture helped a black sharecropper overcome oppression to be a civil rights icon, lead a klan member to preserve the south, it lead a baptist leader to be assured that he was ok to not speak out for civil rights, LEFT WING MOVEMENTS HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN HAD PROGRESSIVE IDEAS SUCH AS RIGHTS OF WORKERS, WOMANS SUFFRAGE ETC ETC

Discuss the findings cited in your book regarding how social status(measured in terms of educational attainment)impacts political party identification.

most educationed was jewish, latterday saints, mainline protestants, catholics...

Explain what your authors mean when they write that questions related to religion are often "contested concepts" (p. 23).

religion falls among what are sometimes called contested concepts, or ideas that generate competing and sometimes conflicting definitions. how do you define someone as religious? what metric do you use?

Research shows that religious leaders often serve as "particularly effective opinion leaders" (p. 120). Why is this so? How successful are they in turning opinion into concrete results?

they can unite religious and political beliefs in a cohesive way

What does the research indicateabout the religious beliefs of so-called "seculars"?

they do not differ much in values from those with religious affiliation, 1/4 reported that religion was important and 60% of all seculars prayed. they are highly spiritual, but dont need or want a religious community

United States v. Ballard 322 1944

was an appeal of the conviction of two leaders of the new religious "I AM" Activity movement for fraudulently seeking and collecting donations on the basis of religious claims that the defendants themselves did not believe. The United States Supreme Court held that the question of whether the defendants' claims about their religious experiences were actually true should not have been submitted to a jury. The Court arrived at this conclusion in part because the "freedom of religious belief... embraces the right to maintain theories of life and of death and of the hereafter which are rank heresy to followers of the orthodox faiths." However, the Court did not address the issue of whether the sincerity of the defendants' beliefs was a proper question for the jury. BALLARD GOT TO KEEP HIS MONEY, THE FORMER BELIEVERS DID NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO QUESTION THE SINCERITY OF HIS BELIEF MY BOY BALLARD GOT RICH OFF SUCKAS MY BOI BALLARD KEEP DAT MONEY

Pierce v. Society of Sisters 268 1925

was an early 20th-century United States Supreme Court decision striking down an Oregon statute that required all children to attend public school. The decision significantly expanded coverage of the Due Process Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution to recognize personal civil liberties. The case has been cited as a precedent in more than 100 Supreme Court cases, including Roe v. Wade, and in more than 70 cases in the courts of appeals. SOCIETY OF SISTERS KIDS DONT HAVE TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DAMN BOSSY NUNS GOT PUT IN THEIR PLACE

Various myths about American history related to church-state relations

• America was settled as a bastion for religious freedom. Actually, it was settled primarily by people who wanted rule of one religious denomination over others. • The Founding Fathers were mostly rebelling against the religious tyranny in Europe. Actually, they were rebelling as much against the religious tyranny they saw among their colonial neighbors. • The Founding Fathers wanted religious freedom because they were Deists.6 Few of them were true Deists—people who believed that God had created the universe and then receded from action. Most of the Founding Fathers at one point believed in a God who intervened in the lives of Americans. • The Founding Fathers wanted religious freedom because they were devout Christians. Most of them disliked much about organized Christianity, the clerical class, and its theology, especially the common Calvinist doctrine that salvation came only from expressed faith in Jesus —or from being among God's select—rather than through good works. • Evangelical Christians invariably want more government support for religion and less separation of church and state. In fact, separation of church and state would not exist if not for the efforts of eighteenthcentury evangelicals. • The American Revolution was fought solely over economic and philosophical issues. One of the most important factors was religion. • The United States was founded as a Christian nation. North America was settled as a Christian realm, and many states did promote Christianity even after the nation's founding, but the United States of America was not established as a "Christian nation." • The First Amendment was designed to separate church and state throughout the land. Actually, the Founders only intended it to apply to the federal government, not the local governments that regulate schools, local courthouses, and town squares.