Background anaysis

Throughout American history religion has always been a big part of daily life. Through the diverse population of America there are many different religions practiced. Before schools were built, religion was taught in religious establishments to eager students. Once schools started to be built, religion was still incorporated into the curriculum. As time went on, the courts decided after the care of Everson vs. Board of Education, that church and state needed to be separate. From 1947 forward, the Court has ruled with regularity on religious issues, in direct violation of the original meaning of the First Amendment. In 1962 a case was filed against a New York district for making the students say a prayer at the beginning of every day. This rule clearly went against the first amendment and was quickly changed. The government and the school boards should not have the authority to require students to say prayers. Even if it only refers to one God, as most religions in America are, it is still a religious practice that was made against the law in public schools. This was a very big landmark for American society.
Religion not only has been brought out of schools but has also helped many people in history. As I researched earlier, during the reconstruction times, the blacks used religion to bond and have a hopeful outlook. They used religion to have a sense of belonging with each other when they came from a place were they were worthless. They found value. But some societies, if there were different religions present, had major issues. For example the Leopold and Leob trial demonstrated that although religion is not what caused the murder of the boy, the uproar from the community when they found out the murders were Jewish, created a lot of chaos.
Religion is defined as a belief in a God. It is demonstrated through prayers and excersizes.

On the School Prayer Decision -1962

In New York beginning in the 1950's, the state required all children in school district 9 to repeat each morning the following prayer, "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and out country." The State Board of Regents, who originally thought of the prayer, believed that it was a proper part of the moral training all students should receive. However, not all people in the state were happy about this change. This case was later brought to the Supreme Court. The court voted 6 to 1 that the New York prayer was "illegal under the First Amendment to the Constitution."
This document displays the views of people against the prayer policy which were used as hearings before the committee on the judiciary. They argued that, "Prayers composed by politicians and governments have never been satisfactory to deeply religious people...because it contains no mention of Christ." The continue to say the prayer is "an empty salute to religion, a gesture which falsely parades as something real." These ideas intend to show that prayer is never the same to everyone and that not all people are religious enough to feel the need to say it. "To establish such a religious exercise upon these citizens is an unconstitutional use of government authority." In summary they are saying that forcing religion in school is unconstitutional. In the end they say, "The realm of religious experience is personal and private;please keep out."
I think that this was a strong argument and that religion should not be taught in public schools. I understand how it could help contribute to building moral values although the government can not for students to declare a God and ask for his blessing each morning. This could offend multiple people and their families. I believe prayer is a personal choice and needs to happen outside educational institutions. For example, last year after we recited the pledge in homeroom we had to stand for a moment of silence. Some students got offended by this new morning ritual that the moment was taken out the following year. I felt that it had a connection to religion and therefore was the reason for taking it out. Religion should be taught out of school and away from the raw education the children are trying to learn. The public system should not be responsible for formulating and requiring prayers.


Annals of American History, "On the School Prayer Decision". Feb 1, 2010

Fredrick Douglass Fourth of July Speech

Fredrick Douglass's Fourth of July Speech talked about the day of Independence for America but primarily the whites. He said that still even after one hundred years that they are still not free nor have all the rights as the whites do. He said that they all live under one God and that they should all live freely. I believe that this was a very hard speech for Douglass to write because he is showing how although people are celebrating Independence he feels sad and embarrassed that our country has not learned how to be equal and Hope to make America a free home to all.

"Frederick Douglass: Fourth of July speech (1852)." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. .

The Great Awakening

The Great Awakening was a radical newfound spirituallity overcoming many people such as the British colonies in the 1720s. This evengelical Christian revivalism took over America under the religious movement "whose common denominator was Protestantism". Jonathan Edwards is "frequently identified as the founder of the Great Awakening, inward spirituallity and ouward religiously owe a debt to...Theodorus Frelinhuysen."

In this atricle I found one man's philosophy of preaching very interesting. Minister Theodorus Frelinghuysen served as a Dutch reformed minister. He started a new way of prayer that was "derisively called the 'howling prayer' because of all the howling and wailing involved." He believed that prayer and spirituality resided in the heart. Although his church rejected his relgious adaptions i think they have some truth in them. For instance, in my synagoge once every month we have musical shabbat in which,as it sounds, we use music to reach God. In hebrew Ruach means spirit. But it means more than spirit...it also has a feeling of completeness, and happiness attached to it. I feel the ruach and soul of the congregation around me when we all sing together. This sence of unity within praying i believe brings us closer to God. I believe that singing or howling or whatever people do is enough to feel complete and whole. It's what's in their hearts that matter. I think that it is pointless to pray if your heart isn't into it because then it is simply just saying words. There is this one quote that i found particularly that relates to my views. "Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays." -Søren Kierkegaard. It means that prayer only really changes a person if he means it and wants to see a differance in his or her life. Another aspect of praying that bothers me is that some people only pray in times of need or hurt. "Many people pray as if God were a big aspirin pill; they come only when they hurt." ~B. Graham Dienert. I totally agree with this quote because it's true. People need to pray when things are good too. They need to relize how fortunate they are and they need to show appreciation for having the things that they do. I should start doing that. I never take the time out of my busy day to stop and think how great of a life and family I have. I never really tell them how much they mean to me or thank God for blessing me with a semi-normal family haha. I will definatly do that next time in my prayers. BE Well

pray what you feel. That's all i have to say.
"Great Awakening." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. .

Leopold and Leob trials

During this class period I found an intresting atricle about the Leopold and Loeb trails. This case dealt with the murder of a 14-year-old boy from Chicago, named Bobby Franks, at the hands of two teens from the area. The two teenagers who were responsible for the killings were very bright in school, were wealthy, and looked as though they had a bright future ahead of them. They initially kidnapped Bobby in order to make a profit but they also intended to kill him to "commit murder and partly to prove that their superior intelligence would enable them to get away with it." The bafling thing about this case is that the two killers were JEWISH!! The fact that the two killers were Jewish enraged the public even more.I feel that because the killers were jewish it gave jews a bad name in the area and it also further seperated the jews from the rest of society. Anti-semitism played a big role in this time era. I think a lot of the reason for all the chaos is because of religion and the inablility for people to accept one anothers religion.


check out the article - http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.





"Leopold and Loeb trials." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. .

Religion and Education during Reconstruction

Religion not only plays a role in the church but also to the people that preach it. In the Reconstruction time, African Americans relied on religion to help them evolve through all the "economic hardships and social deprivation." This faith allowed the blacks to believe that there could be hope for the future. Churches in the South were one of the main centers of black institutional life other than school and labor unions. One thing that i found surprising about the churches was that some were led by white ministers and some felt that it was still a form of slavery. But there were also many other independent churches such as the Methodist or Baptists ones. The church was not only meant to be a place for worship but also a place for funding education. "African Methodist Episcopal churches opened bank accounts for a book fund to support Wilberforce University, and a ladies aid society." I think that this was a great contribution by the church because education does also go in hand with religion.
The article also commented about how whether schools were privately or publicly funded, they were invariably segregated. "As in the realm of religion, where African Americans embraced the opportunity to worship Independently of whites, school segregation did not cause undue concern within the black community." I found this very interesting because they did not mind being segregated in religion. I guess i understand why because its much easier to worship or appreciate things more if you're with people that you are comfortable with.
The best part about religion is that you can bring it with you where ever you are and you don't have to be in a labeled place of worship.



"African American religion and education during Reconstruction." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 28 Jan. 2010. .