religion that is an discussion about religion and state

Question

In some countries, like the United Arab Emirates, religion plays a strong role in laws governing how people live their daily lives. For example, during the celebration of Ramadan, it is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours (even in your car!). In the United States, the Establishment Clause of the Constitution is supposed to prevent religion from playing this sort of political role (although it doesn’t always). What reasons might there be for favoring the Establishment Clause? What reasons might there be for opposing it?

Answer 1

The Establishment clause of the US Constitution has some roots 225 years earlier in the Magdeburg Confession where the evangelical Lutherans were holding on to their lives in that town. They sought freedom of worship where the Papacy would not be the state religion. The clause prevents state religions. It does not stop pluralism of religion, only what they might do to others. There are only a few moments and phases and passages in Islam where it is pluralistic; it didn't make sense in the overall teaching. This is an ongoing problem, because there is a doctrine called 'naqziq' in which the later revelations (passages, scriptures) of Islam overrule the earlier--the ones that have traces of toleration.

In England, the departure of Henry from the Papacy was driven by his remarriages; that in turn was because he lacked a male heir. When he could not get permission, he found from Luther's writings that he could just form his own state church, although he didn't notice that the state part was a mistake. Victoria attempted to be tolerant, but it was a difficult task. This is why many, many people from around the world have come to the US in the time since the US Constitution.