The United States of America was not founded on Christian principles but on the enlightened principle of human rights, that all people are created equal, and endowed with certain rights, among those are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Many of the Founding Fathers were practicing Christians but they also saw Christianity becoming increasingly associated with systems of political oppression. They believed any one religion should not be forced upon its citizens and they made religious freedom the cornerstone of faith in the new republic. Their ideals are rooted in enlightenment ideals, trust of reason over revelation and emphasis on natural rights. They were part of the Age of Enlightenment that began in Europe and later came to the American colonies.
Danielle Rassi Mr. Battersby APUSH 11 September 2011 DBQ 1: The Influence of Puritan Values The Puritans were a diverse group of people who stood for religious purity. They believed that the English Reformation had not gone far enough in disposing similarities with the Church of Rome, such as hierarchy. Throughout the 1630s to the 1660s the Puritan’s valued religion and their beliefs were displayed in their life style, from the layout of their church centered town to their idea of salvation. Despite the religious rules, “brethren” community, and Puritan work ethic that influenced their social way of life and produced economic success in businesses, their utopian government fell apart at the rise of conflict between religious and profit motives as well as the clash of opposing ideas to their Puritan political system. The social structure of the New England Puritans was a brotherhood.
The Church was criticized for a large number of things by the Protestants. One of these was the religious exclusiveness that the Church demonstrated. The Church believed that there is only one true Church, the Roman Catholic Church. This belief turned the word ‘church’ into a proper noun. Another thing that the Church was often criticized for was the lack of separation between Church and State.
The essential thing is that since its inception as a nation, America's obsession has been to find social perfection through a triple commitment: the divinity, religion and community. Throughout its history, the nation's politicians have invoked the favor of God in his speeches and stressed the "important mission" of their obligation to fulfill. Manifest Destiny was not a thesis embraced by the whole American society. The differences within the country about the purpose and policy implications of expansion led to its acceptance. It is said that the manifest destiny was positive because it encouraged Americans to explore new places and regions.
Amish Culture and Beliefs Isolation The Amish are an isolated group and believe in living separately from the rest of the world. The biblical words “keep out of her…do not share in her sin” are taken literally by the Amish, and they shun outside company. ( Squidoo, 2009) 3 Religious views The religious views of the Amish are extremely conservative and do not permit deviation or dissent. Amish have very firm views on morals and religion and tend to interpret the bible literally, following what they believe to be its message strictly. They believe in the authority of the church, and the separation of religion and governance.
Like the Puritans, he planned to combat natural inclinations by building a life of strong moral preservation. While Franklin did not have as devoted a belief in God as the Puritans, he did believe in God and believed in the importance of good deeds and services. He also believed that all crimes were punishable, like the Puritans, who believed that God gave punishments to all wrongs. Franklin listed out virtues and sought to accomplish each in a specific order. His notion of virtues differed, however, from the Puritans who believed that being close to God was most virtuous and focused on reading scripture and prayers instead of being good citizens.
Thus, the Massachusetts Bay colony was formed in the New World, the Americas, an ideal place for Winthrop’s “City upon a Hill”. The puritan way of life has fascinating similarities to modern-day American society. It can be seen how Puritan ways transcended throughout American culture, and still are the core of governmental ideologies and some American families today. Puritans took the word of the bible as their creed – and followed its teachings accordingly. The strict idealism of god and his power placed fear in children, for they believe their faults will be treated with adverse repercussions.
These said factors led to considerable contrast. The colonists that settled in New England were families of young age. Family plays an important role in religion, and it shows that the colonists were planning to stay in America and form a community shaped around the church (document B). They were, for the most part, highly religious Puritans who wished to avoid religious persecution and wanted religious tolerance. So, they immigrated to America to follow their ideals, which are expressed in Document A.
In Elementary Forms of Religious Life, he specifically defines “a religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden-beliefs and practices which united in one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them” (Durkheim, 47). As we have seen, Durkheim and Marx each had their own definitions of religion. However, we will learn that they both see an important role that religion plays in a society, as well as the ways in which society creates and shapes their religions. “Karl Marx is without a doubt the most influential political atheist of all time. Because Marx espoused atheism in his attempt to destroy capitalism, half the world today is officially committed to atheism as a political philosophy” (Koster, 161).
“One of the strongest of the influences exerted by the Christian religion was the bond which it created among people of different races. The religions of the ancient world, with few exceptions, had been national in their character, and had strictly excluded outsiders from any part or benefit therein. Christianity, on the contrary, appealed to whoever would embrace it, of whatever race or nationality, and the line which it drew was not that between those of one race and those of another, but between those who accepted the belief and those who rejected it. The great influence of the medieval church, therefore, was thrown in support of the movement for a system of laws governing the relations between different nations.” (Putney, A. H.) “The Christian decision to