The Founders and Religious Freedom

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James Madison and Thomas Jefferson are two of the seven key founding fathers of the United States. The motive of the founders of the U.S. was to establish religious freedom in the colonies; therefore, religion was of importance to them. When the policy of the separation of church and state was enacted by the founding fathers through the Constitution, it meant that under a secular government, religious freedom would always be protected. Issues such as the freedom to practice one’s religion arose in the earlier colonies and the separation of church and states prevents these issues from occurring again. The separation of church and state protects the rights of all and ensures religious freedom. This policy has proven to be nothing but a success for religion in America.

The founding fathers created the Constitution to protect religious freedom. Within the Constitution is the guarantee of the separation of church and state. For example, within schools the Supreme Court in the early sixties ruled against mandatory worship in public schools. Some believe the Court “kicked God out of the schools” but this was not the case. Instead it governed that neither politicians nor school officials, but parents, have the right to decide the religious teaching their child receives. Today, many religious leaders in America support the guaranteed separation of church and state established and protected by the Constitution. They say they do not want to see any religion favored by the government.

According to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, religion was very important. Thomas Jefferson actually “revealed more about his faith than any other founding father.” The role of religion was so important to these founders that they, along ...

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...tp://www.au.org/resources/publications/americas-legacy-of-religious-liberty-pass-it-on.

Hutson, James. Library of Congress, "James Madison and the Social Utility of Religion:." Last modified May 31, 2001. (accessed April 6, 2012). http://www.loc.gov/loc/madison/hutson-paper.html.

Loconte, Joseph. There Heritage Foundation: Leadership for America, "James Madison and Religious Liberty." (March 16, 2001). (accessed April 6, 2012). http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2001/03/james-madison-and-religious-liberty.

Perry, Barbara, A. "Jefferson's Legacy to the Supreme Court: Freedom of Religion." Journal Of Supreme Court History 31, no. 2 (July 2006): 181-198. America: History & Life, EBSCOhost (accessed April 6, 2012).

All About History, "Separation of Church and State." (accessed April 6, 2012). http://www.allabouthistory.org/separation-of-church-and-state.htm.

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