Essay On Religion In America

Hints of religiosity have been embedded in the entirety of United States history. From George Washington taking the oath of office with his right hand on the Bible in 1789 to Barack Obama ending his 2009 oath with “So help me god,” religious influence in American presidency has continuously been pervasive. The prevalence of religion in American government, specifically Christianity, has caused a number of efforts to change the Preamble of the United States Constitution to reflect a more Christian society. While the nation’s current Preamble mentions promising ideas of justice, tranquility, and general welfare, Stephan Newman in his article, “From John F. Kennedy’s 1960 Campaign Speech to Christian Supremacy: Religion in Modern Presidential

Abraham Lincoln, whose religious identity remains indistinct among political and religious scholars, shot down the 1863 Preamble change. In the grand scheme of American politics, Gastón Espinosa, editor of Religion and the American Presidency: George Washington to George W. Bush with Commentary and Primary Sources” provides an overarching view, stating, “Given the critical role that religion plays in difficult conflicts around the world and in the United States, it is presumable that religion will continue to play a critical role in presidential campaigns and domestic- and foreign-policy decisions for many years to come” (40). The foremost issue with the conceivability that religion will play a part in American politics in the future is the warped view of prosperity and righteousness that religion brings to the table. Because forty-three different men have served as president