Religion in American History
January 18, 2018
By Paul V.M. Flesher
In a recent survey, college seniors were
asked questions from a high school-level test on American history. Over 75
percent scored a D or below!
While the disappointment expressed by history professors, politicians
and the media over the students’ performance is certainly justified, it was the
questions on the test that I found most disappointing. Despite this country’s
proud religious heritage and the influence of religion at nearly every stage of
our history, none of the questions asked about religion. It was as if religion
had been dropped from the curriculum. So, although the survey showed that
students have forgotten the names, dates and places of American history, they
were never expected to know the importance of religion in shaping our country.
How did our education system arrive in this situation? It all boils
down to the separation of church and state. In the early part of the 20th
century, the boundaries between church and state were not clearly defined with
regard to schools. All across America, school systems had a variety of
relationships to local churches and religious practice. Aspects of American
religious history were taught in various degrees of detail.
Then, following the end of World War II, uncertainties began to arise
concerning the appropriateness of the intertwining of churches and schools. The
doubts continued into the 1960s when the Supreme Court ruled that schools were
permitted to teach ABOUT religion(s), but they were not permitted to teach
religion, i.e., to indoctrinate. Thus, the court approved teaching of the role
of religion in American history.
So, it would seem that the matter had been resolved. But, not so. The
Supreme Court’s ruling that banned teacher-led school prayer ushered in an era
of litigation over religion in schools, which has continued to this day.
Although the controversy focuses on religious prayer, it has spilled over into
instruction about religion.
The fear of legal action has led schools to “sanitize” their
curriculum, to take mention of religion out of the curriculum. This has not
been from any fear of religion, but from the fear of being sued and the
tremendous costs that suits entail. School district budgets are stretched as it
is, without having to find several million dollars for legal expenses. The victory
granting the ability to teach students about this country’s religious heritage
has been squandered by the political controversy over school prayer.
So, what kinds of questions should high school students, college
students and we “lifelong learners” be able to answer about religion in our
country’s past? Here are three true/false questions you can test yourself on:
1. The Puritans believed that everyone in America should have the
freedom to follow any religion and to worship in any way they chose.
2. At the time of the American Revolution and the founding of the
American republic, Baptists strongly supported the separation of church and
state.
3. In the slavery debate preceding the Civil War, the Bible’s explicit
statements about slaves supported the pro-slavery position best.
Check the answers below, and see if you
don’t agree that religion’s role in shaping American culture and history needs
more emphasis at all levels of learning, from our elementary schools to our
senior citizens.
Answers:
1. False -- Puritans were interested in freedom of religion for
themselves only. It was Roger Williams, Rhode Island’s founder, who promoted
religious freedom for all.
2. True -- Historically, Baptists have been some of the strongest
believers in the separation of church and state.
3. True -- The Bible never explicitly condemns slavery; its statements
assume that slavery is a normal part of society.
Labels: American Religion, Baptists, Christianity, Puritans, Religion in American History, Religious Freedom, separation of church and state, slavery, teaching history
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