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Running head: Religion & Politics

Essay on The Role of Religion in American Political Thought

Tim Reed

Ivy Tech Community College

POLS 101 – KNH

02/13/2020
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Running head: Religion & Politics

Abstract.

For many years, citizens of the United States have questioned how prevalent religion has

played a role in many of the movements or establishments of certain practices that have occurred

throughout the short history of this nation. Religion has been one of the main pillars of the

culture to the citizens in the United States since when the colonists first came over during what

was known as, “Colonial America.” Even though religion has divided in multiple sects over the

years, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it hasn’t influenced anything along the way. Some of

the examples where religion has played a major role in the founding or establishment of certain

movements or practices would be the establishment of America and the Constitution, the

Abolitionist movement, and the gay rights movement.

The Role of Religion in the Founding of America & The Constitution

One of the movements or establishments where religion has played a major role within it

would be the founding of America and The Constitution. Before anybody ever came over to the

New World, there was a lot of religious persecution happening in England and various places in

Europe. Because of this religious persecution, a group of Puritans sailed over from England to

start a brand new life and practice their religion as freely as they wanted to in a whole new place.

Even before the Pilgrims came over, their goal was to make the New World a Christian model

for the rest of the world. “Governor John Winthrop, in his shipboard sermon, called their

settlement ‘a city upon a hill’…few realize that Winthrop was quoting the Sermon on the Mount

in the New Testament” (Morone, 2012, p. 32). One can tell that it was Winthrop’s goal to make

sure religion was prominent in this New World. For many years, religion stayed that prominent.

One way of showing that, is when the Constitution was drafted by the Convention in 1787 . In
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Running head: Religion & Politics

the First Amendment of the Constitution, which became one of the main focal points of the

document, states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or

prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (Morone, 2012, p. 33) This would be more of an

interpretation of Christianity, but some believe that the respect and honor of others’ religion is a

crucial part to being a true Christian, and that a Christian shouldn’t have to repulse someone

because of whom or what they believe in. Even after the times of Colonial America, when the

country was founded on religion, the effects of a strong religious culture carry today by showing

us that “86% of Americans believe in God…63% belong to a church…and 42% attend church

regularly” (Morone, 2012, p. 32). These statistics show how influential religion played a role in

forming our nation and in the Constitution, allowing those to praise who they wish. While

religion played a major role in the establishment of the nation and in the Constitution, it also

affected social/political movements that would appear many years later.

The Role of Religion in the Abolitionist Movement

Another movement or establishment that where religion has played a major within it

would be the Abolitionist Movement. Religion was one of the most important things that played

a role in the Abolition movement. The Quakers were staunchly against slavery: “they refused to

hold slaves” (Outram, 2005, p. 61). The Quakers worked with other Protestants to bring about an

end to slavery for nearly 40 years (1830-1870). Though religion did not provide any the

economic reasons for ending slavery, religion did provide a good reason (human rights

argument) for abolition. Even though this is how the abolitionists saw this movement, most of

the white people (plantation owners) in the south saw this as a very big problem. While these

abolitionists were saving slaves, these men were losing money for their business. Along with the
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Running head: Religion & Politics

Abolitionist Movement, there were three amendments that were passed that became focal points

to the whole cause of saving and helping slaves. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were passed

(1865-1870), and made all slaves free, made them citizens, and gave them the right to vote.

Based on the results that came out of Abolitionist Movement, it is doubtful to say whether the

Abolitionist Movement would have had a good case against slavery without faith and religion.

The Abolitionist Movement was not the only movement where religion had a major role to play.

There were major movements post-1970 that were heavily influenced by religion as well.

The Role of Religion in the Gay Rights Movement

Finally, a movement or establishment that where religion has played a major within it

would be the Gay Rights Movement. The Gay Rights Movement has been going on for a very

long time. Some say the movement started in the 1920s when Henry Gerber established “the

Society for Human Rights, the first documented gay rights organization in the United States”(),

and is still going on today in some areas. There have been many advocates for the Gay Rights

Movement. Anyone that has ever supported the idea of the fact that anyone should be with who

they wish to be with, is an advocate. Someone with more recognition to their name that has been

advocate for years is Ellen DeGeneres, and also the organization, the “Human Rights Campaign”

has been a big advocate for gay rights since it was made to help those who were gay obtain

equality. With this movement, there were many people who resisted the idea of a man being able

to be with a man, and for a woman to be with a woman, especially those who were devoutly

religious and believed in word-for-word what the Bible says. Because the Bible says that it’s an

abomination, then those specific people thought that gay people would be condemned to hell

because of their actions. The major Supreme Court case that became a focal point of this
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Running head: Religion & Politics

movement was Obergefell v. Hodges. This case allowed for any man or woman to marry their

same sex legally in all states in the nation. This was monumental to the movement as it was

illegal in many states for gay couples to marry each other. With the age we’re in now, with a

more relaxed look on religion, and with people being willing to support others, that it was seen

as more acceptable then to make it an actual “law of of the land” instead of 25 years ago for

example. Without this relaxed view, it is doubtful to say if this court case would have ruled in

favor of the Gay Rights Movement.

Conclusion

While examining and analyzing all three sections of this essay, one can come to the

conclusion that the role of religion in American political culture will diminish. When comparing

how much religion affected people’s lives in Colonial America versus now, it’s almost night and

day. “Generation Z” and some of the “Millennials” are not as focused on religion and how it

impacts our lives as much as that of the “Baby Boomers.” This shows that as each generation

passes by, the citizens within that generation become further and further away from having a

strict religious life. This can be seen with when the Constitution and America was first formed,

compared to when the Gay Rights Movement was happening. With that in mind, one can argue

that within the next couple of generations, religion will disappear from the political culture since

it’s been slowly tapering off since Colonial America.

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Running head: Religion & Politics

References Page

Morone, J. A., & Kersh, R. (2019). By the people: debating American government. New York:

Oxford University Press.

Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.). Faith Positions. Retrieved February 13, 2020, from

https://www.hrc.org/resources/faith-positions

Outram, Dorinda. The Enlightenment. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.