Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Enlightenment Arguments for and against Separation of Church and State. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 6 page paper considers arguments by Enlightenment thinkers with regard to the separation of church and state, and how these arguments influenced Americans, particularly Thomas Jefferson. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_HVChuSta.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
it actually has a history stretching back to the ancient world. This paper looks at some of the Enlightenment arguments for and against this doctrine. Discussion The Enlightenment was an
extraordinary time in history, a time when scientific inquiry and thought were replacing religious beliefs as explanations for natural processes. Knowing this, we might expect that it will be easier
to find arguments in favor of the separation of church and state than in favor of consolidating them. Well see if this is true or not. The issue of the
separation of church and state is particularly important to Americans, since the Constitution itself "was the product of the Enlightenment, which mandated the separation of church and state" (Viorst 98).
Americans in general "have remained faithful to the Enlightenment notion that a citizens relationship to God is a personal choice" (Viorst 98). This principle is enshrined in the First Amendment,
that says the government cannot interfere with the freedom of religion of American citizens. (In case anyones forgotten, here it is in its entirety: "Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the government for a redress of grievances" ("First Amendment")). The idea of the separation of church and state was important to Thomas Jefferson, who was influenced greatly by
John Locke, as well see. Jefferson wrote to the Baptist Association in Danbury, Connecticut in January 1802, and said in part: Believing with you that religion is a
matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions
...