Religion In Public Life

Religion In Public LifeMichael MolloyDavid MasoverDanielle KingSara CrookerSkiler Miller

World Religions By Percentage (2007 est.)

The Religious battle

OverviewWealth and religionYounger people are less religiousWomen are more religious than menSex education in schoolsHolidaysWearing religious clothing (Burqaas & Head Scarfs)Gay marriageBirth ControlWomen as PriestsChurch and State SeparationSexual Misconduct and Religious leaders

Birth ControlBirth control has essentially become a necessity among women todayUnwanted pregnancySTIs

With most religions birth control is not believed until marriage or not even at all.Children are giftsCatholic beliefs

Birth control continued71% in 1000 teenage girls get pregnant

33.4 million people living with AIDS

75% of population contract HPV

www.nytimes.com/2010/01/us/27teen.html

Other optionsAdoption

Celibacy

Abstinence

Same sex marriage (SSM)Marriages used to be arrangedEuropean public administrators categorized the sexual deviants around 1860s and 70sBecame the target of medical, psychiatric and legal intervention as early as 1870sU.S. saw a rise in the last half of the 20th century when people migrated to the big cities for workMilitary and industrial barracks allowed for freedom to express themselves without family and religious disapprovalAfter WW11 military banned homosexualsSame Sex marriage was not legal in any state until 2004States that allow SSM include Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, California, Vermont and IowaIowas History Gay Marriage law was passed in April of 2009

Overturned a 10 year old ban on same sex marriage but still maintains the churchs right to choose who can be married under its roof

Judges voted out of office after advocating same sex marriage

Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, and justices David Baker and Michael Streit were the target of an estimated $1 million campaign by gay marriage foes

Religious and political views For: Denying marriage to same sex couples is denying humans their equal rights Against: Marriage is a sacramental or ceremonial unionSome religious individuals and groups feel that they will have to violate their beliefs by being forced to marry same sex couples Iowa decided that by not allowing same sex marriage violated the states constitution and religious beliefs cannot overthrow laws and constitutions

Van Harn, Gary, Milt Ford, M.J. Thiel, and Diana Pace. Home-Allies & Advocates. Grand Valley State University. 1995. Web. 8 Nov. 2010. http://www.gvsu.edu/allies/.

Robinson, B.A. ReligiousTolerance.org by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. 10 May 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2010. http://www.religioustolerance.org/

Sexual misconduct and Religious leadersCatholic Priests81% of victims where male22.6% were age 10 or younger51% were between the ages of 11 and 1427% were between the ages to 15 to 17 years.

Christian Clergy MisconductCongregate Females misled into sexual actsAbuse of powerWomen as priestsWomen are not allowed to be ordained in the Roman Catholic faith

In recent times there has been a movement for women to become priests

History of female ordinationIn ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome women were ordained as priestesses. In ancient Buddhism women were ordained as Bhikkhunis.

Female ordination and ChristianityIn Christianity women have been prevented from ordination because of interpretation of certain new testament scripture.Many Protestant denominations believe women can be ordained and have different interpretations of these scriptures.

Separation of church and stateWhere the term comes from?Are we really a Christian Nation? Is this a threat to religion?Separation of church and stateThe term Separation of Church and State never appears in the ConstitutionBut Jefferson was very clear: Americans declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. -- Jeffersons Letter to the Danbury Baptists (loc.gov) -- Constitution of the United States (archives.gov)Separation of church and stateJefferson was Deist, along with many other Founding FathersIn God We Trust was added to the money in 1864Under God was added to the pledge in 1954!Separation of church and stateQuestions I cant answer yetAre church and state separate?Should they be?How far should the state go to avoid religion?How far should religion go to avoid the state?Separation of church and stateIs this a threat to religion?

Separation of church and stateIs this a threat to religion?No one is stopping you from putting up a nativity sceneNo one can tell you what religion you can or cant haveBut it depends on the religion.Blessing over the wine?Peyote?Fair Game?Sacred Hoodie?ConclusionReligion is important becauseIt influences peoples actionsIt carries a powerful emotional impactBut its difficult becauseIts controversialIts emotionally chargedSo pay attention, but draw your own conclusions!