Religious Freedom Research Paper Example

Religious Freedom Paper Most people living in the United States assume that their first amendment rights, more specifically freedom of religion, are inherent; and they are. Religion has a long history; the first recorded religion was in Mesopotamia around 5000 BCE (Britannica). With more and more countries becoming modernized and recognizing peoples individual rights, however, how many still deny freedom of religion? Is separating church and state an indispensable element in protecting a citizens freedom of religion, or could some laws attaining to religion be beneficial in protecting religious freedom? This essays function is to answer the above questions and give a further understanding to religious freedom around the world. One of the main reasons why pilgrims decided to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to a new world in 1620 was to escape the religious persecution in England (Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick). A lot may argue that this is why religious freedom (and for the most part today, tolerance) is so evident in our country. On the opposite side of the spectrum, however, look at Saudi Arabia. The country formed, in part, due to a holy war, has a monarchial government, and adopted the Islamic holy text, The Koran, as its constitution (BBC). It also prohibits any religion except for a conservative version of Sunni Islam (US Department of State). It wouldnt be accurate, however, to assume that every countrys current-day religious tolerance depends on its foundation. Take Cuba for example: the country was founded by the Spanish, who formed it into a Catholic nation. When Fidel Castro took over power, he made Cuba a totally atheistic nation (NCRonline). We will write a custom essay sample on Religious Freedom specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Religious Freedom specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Religious Freedom specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The point Im making here is that although some countries with religious tolerance are founded on such beliefs, some are not and gravitate towards a different belief than what was originally intended. The ancient Persians, more specifically Cyrus the Great, founded the first religious freedom law in the 6th century BC. However, you have to understand that freedom of religion, religious tolerance, and freedom of worship are all different and have all varied to some degree in the past. Most countries today allow the freedom of religion, and extremely tolerant countries like the United States or Canada allow the freedom to assemble and worship. On the other hand, you have countries like Sudan. Sudan allows limited tolerance of other religions, but has declared Islam as its national religion and requires all laws be inspired by it. Even to a more extreme, you have China, more specifically the Peoples Republic of China, which allows very limited freedom of religion and expressively disallows the gathering in groups to worship (however, one must understand that because Chinas two main religions, Confucianism and Daoism, dont have gods, its difficult for Westerners to understand this religious intolerance) (US Department of State). Like I stated before, and as many Americans know, the first amendment to the Constitution declares separation of church and state; it expressively declares that no law shall infringe upon or discriminate against any religion. One must ask himself, then, why is every piece of currency in the US engraved with the phrase In God We Trust, or why does the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States include the phrase Under God? These two cases, although controversial, bring up an interesting point. Because this essay is an evaluation essay as apposed to a persuasive work, I will not discuss or imply my positions on these phrases; rather, we must realize that the basis for these phrases foster a more interesting idea: is total separation of church and state in the best interest of the common citizen? In a 100% atheistic government, there would be no law favoring a religion, but at the same time, there would be none protecting the establishment or worship of another (a law protecting this would actually be reversed discrimination, therefore discrimination in itself). In the United States, its illegal to discriminate against an individual because of their religious preferences. Every government has some form of religious law, whether it is favoring a certain religion (like Islam in Saudi Arabia), attempting to separate itself from religion while protecting an individuals rights (like Canada), or acclaiming itself as atheistic (Cuba under Castro). While there has always been religious intolerance in the world, the most recent extreme form is modern day terrorism. For this paper, lets examine the most recent and notable terrorist attacks: 9/11. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Islamic suicide terrorists boarded four commercial jet airlines, flew two of them into the World Trade Centers, one into the Pentagon in Washington, and attempted to fly one in the direction of Washington D. C. Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the deadly attacks, declared a holy war against the United States. In summary, the radical Sunni Islamic sect Al-Qaeda opposes the United States position on separation of church and state and declares that You are the worst civilization witnessed by the history of mankind: You are the nation who, rather than ruling by the Shariah of Allah in its Constitution and Laws, choose to invent your own laws as you will and desire. You separate religion from your policies, contradicting the pure nature which affirms Absolute Authority to the Lord and your Creator, (The Guardian) as stated in Bin Ladens Letter to America. There will always be religious differences in this world, and it cannot be expected that all countries will be as tolerant as the United States is when it comes to a plethora of religions. Is it the United States job to help spread a belief of religious tolerance in this world? How should we go about doing it if so? If not, do we only take a defensive stance toward another terrorist attack like 9/11? Our only option is to sit back and see how the War Against Terror plays out and how other extremist groups respond. Im just glad I live in a country where I get to believe what I want, think what I want, wear what I want, and be myself. In conclusion, there are many different religions in this world, and every country takes its own approach in tolerance. In the United States, we have laws pertaining to the separation of church and state along with laws restricting discrimination due to religion. Terrorism is more prominent than ever, and 9/11 enacted a War Against Terror that still rages on today. Maybe one day, the world will see eye-to-eye on religious tolerance, but until then, lets be glad that we live in a country where we get to worship whatever we want.