Module 7: Discussion 1 -- What Have You Learned?

Discussion: What Have You Learned?Despite being controversial, religion has been a significant force in shaping American culture. Religious principles greatly influenced state and colonial governments, and America as a new state. Religious practices, values, and teachings affected economic practice and ideology, instruction and educational institutions, and political policies and structures (Smith, 2020). It also affected marriage, family life, and social customs and norms. In this course, I have learned three things about American religious history that shed the most light on today’s American religion, culture and politics. I have learned that there is no true separation of church and state. During the colonial Virginia era, citizens paid taxes to maintain their Parish or churches. Virginia’s elite would target the poor and convince them that they needed religion to live peaceful and fulfilling lives (Frontline, 2010). Soon, licenses were required for preachers to go around spreading the Gospel. The Baptists rebelled against this and pushed forward to fight for their religious rights, without government interference. Thomas Jefferson supported them by drafting a bill that would eliminate state-supported religion.Secondly, I have also learned competition between religious sects and denominations was deliberately initiated to encourage freedom of worship and discourage the government’s