Isabella Carter
The US Constitution was influenced by the famed Judeo-Christian tradition, which includes a shared Bible and a broader understanding of Jewish Law. The Hebrew Bible played a central role in the founding of various educational institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. The US Constitution has also been a bulwark against unchecked religious interests and influences shaping education and other aspects of civil society. The period of fascination with Hebraic sources was impactful but short, lasting roughly from 1500 to 1650. Religious conceptions had a much smaller role in 18th-century political thought, and in some parts of Europe, there was fierce anti-clericalism. Several among the American founders were familiar with the works of Hebraists and were influenced by them. The US Constitution has also been influenced by Jewish values, such as democracy and equality, and has shaped the development of Christianity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Separation of church and state | The US Constitution established the principle of separation of church and state, which has influenced policy change and limited public aid to parochial schools |
| Religious tolerance | The US Constitution's commitment to religious liberty and tolerance is influenced by the Hebrew Bible and the Biblical story of ancient Israel, which the Founders viewed as parallel to America's founding |
| Individual liberties and rights | The US Constitution's recognition of extensive individual liberties and rights, including religious freedom, is in line with fundamental Jewish values and the political culture of the US |
| Democracy | Judaism's commitment to pluralism and a dynamic civil society has influenced the democratic nature of the US Constitution, including multiple modes of popular participation |
| Legal reform | Jewish organizations have advocated for legal reform to address inequalities and discrimination against Jews, using litigation and legislation to promote policy change |
| Education | The Hebrew Bible influenced the founding of educational institutions in the US, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and others, and shaped their official emblems and seals |
| Sexuality and homosexuality | Ancient Jewish voices and perspectives on sexuality and homosexuality have influenced the shaping of American constitutional attitudes |
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What You'll Learn
The separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state is enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". This is known as the establishment clause, and it prohibits the government from creating an official religion or favouring one religion (or non-religion) over another.
Jefferson emphasised the importance of the separation of church and state in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, a religious minority group who had expressed fears of religious persecution. He assured them that the First Amendment's free exercise and establishment clauses together built "a wall of separation between church and state".
The establishment clause has been used to challenge religious discrimination and ensure that all Americans can practice their beliefs in private and in public. For example, in the case of Board of Education of Kiryas Joel Village School District v. Grumet (1994), the establishment clause was used to argue that a separate school district for a village of Orthodox Jews violated the Constitution, as it excluded all but practitioners of one religion.
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The development of Christianity
Christianity began as a movement within Judaism at a time when the Jews had long been dominated culturally and politically by foreign powers. The religion of Israel was marked by tension between the concept of monotheism, with its universal ideal of salvation for all nations, and the notion of God's special choice of Israel. The relationship of the earliest Christian churches to Judaism turned on two questions: the messianic role of Jesus of Nazareth, and the permanent validity of Mosaic Law for all.
Christianity grew rapidly in its early centuries. By 200, Christian numbers had grown to over 200,000 people, and communities with an average size of 500-1000 people existed in approximately 200-400 towns. By 250, Christianity had grown to over a million adherents. House churches were succeeded by buildings designed to be churches, complete with assembly rooms, classrooms, and dining rooms. Bishops rose in power and influence as they began to preside over larger areas with multiple churches. Christian sects, cults, and movements rose during the second and third centuries. Gnostic texts challenged the physical nature of Jesus, Montanism suggested that the apostles could be superseded, and Monarchianism emphasized the unity of God over the Trinity.
In 313, the emperor Constantine, a self-declared Christian, issued the Edict of Milan, expressing tolerance for all religions. Constantine supported Christianity by giving bishops judicial power and establishing them as legally equal to polytheistic priests. Christian art, architecture, and literature blossomed under Constantine. The basilica, a type of Roman municipal court hall, became the model for Christian architecture. The late fourth century also saw Jerome translate the Greek biblical texts into Latin (the Vulgate). Church Fathers of this period, such as Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostom, and Gregory of Nazianzus, wrote vast numbers of works. The ascetic ideal of these early Church Fathers was also embraced by monasticism, which had begun earlier in Syria.
In the fourth century, Christianity became favored by emperors, while Judaism came to be seen as similar to heresy. Augustine of Hippo, however, argued that Jews should not be forcibly converted or killed, as they preserved the teachings of the Old Testament and were "living witnesses" of the New Testament. In the Sasanian Empire, the percentage of Christians was as high as in the Roman Empire. The Kingdom of Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion, followed by Caucasian Albania and the East African Kingdom of Aksum. In the Roman Empire, many of the Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, and Vandals converted to Christianity even as they caused havoc.
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Religious liberty
The US Constitution was influenced by the Judeo-Christian tradition, which includes a shared Bible and a broader understanding of Jewish Law. The Hebrew Bible played a central role in the founding of various educational institutions, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, among others. Many of these colleges even adopted some Hebrew phrase or word as part of their official emblem or seal.
The US Constitution has been a bulwark against unchecked religious interests and influences shaping education and other aspects of civil society. The non-establishment clause of the US Constitution has, from the country's founding, protected against a state religion or religious favoritism. The US Constitution's commitment to neutrality in matters of religion compares favourably with the notion of public reason as a political approach to the question of state and church relations.
The US Constitution's protection of religious liberty was influenced by Judaism. The country's founding ideals of religious liberty were shaped by the perspectives of America's earliest Jewish citizens. The story of the Jewish people and the Biblical story of ancient Israel were viewed as parallel to that of America by the Founding Fathers. The ideals that America's Jews hoped the new country would live up to were expressed in a letter from Jonas Phillips to George Washington. Phillips wrote that despite the general acceptance of Jews in the new United States, they were not truly free because an oath affirming the truth of the Old and New Testaments was a requirement to serve in the statehouse.
The "no religious test" clause in Article VI, Clause 3 of the Constitution stipulates that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." This clause ensured that Jewish citizens could participate in the country's administration on an equal footing with others. The First Amendment also guarantees that Jewish Americans would not be forced to conform to a state religion or constrained from practising their own.
In more recent times, Jewish organisations have used litigation and legislation to address inequalities in the law between majority and minority religions. This strategy has included attacking discrimination against Jews in colleges, universities, and housing, and bringing issues of church-state separation to the courts.
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Sexuality and homosexuality
The US Constitution's approach to sexuality and homosexuality has been influenced by a variety of factors, including religious beliefs, specifically those of Judaism and Christianity. Ancient Jewish voices, particularly the Torah, have shaped the perception of homosexuality and informed the development of Christian beliefs, which in turn influenced the American Constitution.
Judaism's Influence on Christianity
The Torah, a foundational text in Judaism, has traditionally been interpreted as classifying male homosexual intercourse as a "to'eivah" or an abhorred act, subject to capital punishment. This interpretation has been a subject of debate within modern Jewish denominations, with Orthodox Judaism maintaining this traditional view. However, other branches, such as Conservative and Reform Judaism, have evolved to accept homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The Babylonian Talmud, for instance, interprets lesbianism as "women's play," neither threatening nor defined as sexual activity.
The influence of Judaism on Christianity is evident in the book of Leviticus, which is part of the Christian Old Testament. Leviticus refers to male homosexual practices and has been interpreted as condemning "unnatural intercourse." This interpretation contributed to the negative perception of homosexuality in Christian norms.
Christianity's Influence on the US Constitution
Christian beliefs, shaped by Jewish influences, played a significant role in the formation of early American colonies. These colonies established a traditional heterosexual family structure and brought sodomy laws, which criminalized homosexuality and carried the death penalty. This legacy of religious influence on sexuality continued, with the US military prohibiting openly gay service members under the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in 1993. Additionally, the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 barred federal recognition of same-sex couples.
However, it is important to note that not all Christian denominations in the US have been opposed to homosexuality. For example, in 2006, the Rabbinical Council of America, an Orthodox Jewish group, expressed its opposition to conversion therapy. Additionally, in 2008, the California State Supreme Court ruled that barring the legalization of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, sparking nationwide protests in support of same-sex marriage.
In conclusion, the US Constitution's approach to sexuality and homosexuality has been influenced by a complex interplay between Judaism and Christianity. While ancient Jewish texts and interpretations have shaped Christian beliefs about homosexuality, the US Constitution has reflected a struggle between religious influences and evolving social attitudes. The influence of Judaism, both directly and through its impact on Christianity, has been a significant factor in shaping the US Constitution's approach to sexuality and homosexuality.
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Jewish support for democracy
The US Constitution was influenced by the famed Judeo-Christian tradition, which includes a shared Bible and a broader understanding of Jewish Law. This influence has shaped the development of Christianity and, by extension, the values and attitudes that underpin the Constitution.
Judaism has strongly supported democracy, especially in the United States. This is due to the commitment to a pluralistic and dynamic civil society, where Jewish people can enjoy the same freedoms and rights as others, which resonates with fundamental Jewish values. The US political culture at its founding was also in contrast to that of European nations, with its recognition of extensive individual liberties and rights, as well as its democratic modes of popular participation in the political process.
The nonestablishment clause of the US Constitution has protected against a state religion or religious favoritism, which has been beneficial for Jewish people. This neutrality allows individuals to maintain their constitutive commitments without imposition or requirement of bracketing.
Jewish organizations in the US, such as the American Jewish Congress, have actively worked to influence public policy and promote policy change. They have done this by addressing discrimination against Jews and advocating for the separation of church and state, which aligns with democratic values.
In Israel, there is a belief among some that the country can be both Jewish and democratic. Basic Laws passed in 1992 and amended in 1994, such as the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, and the Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation, aim to protect human dignity, liberty, and freedom of occupation, while also establishing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. However, the 2018 Nation-state law, which defined the right to self-determination as unique to the Jewish people in Israel, has been criticized as racist and undemocratic.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was influenced by the famed Judeo-Christian tradition, which includes a shared Bible and a broader understanding of Jewish Law. The Hebrew Bible played a central role in the founding of various educational institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
The US Constitution's commitment to religious tolerance was influenced by the Jewish experience of persecution in Europe. The "no religious test" clause in Article VI, Clause 3 of the Constitution, and the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom, ensured that Jewish Americans could participate in the country's administration and practice their faith freely.
The US Constitution's approach to sexuality was influenced by ancient Jewish views on the subject, which were more complex and nuanced than the binary story articulated by some Christian sages.
The US Constitution's nonestablishment clause, which protects against a state religion or religious favoritism, can be seen as influenced by Jewish values and the historical experience of Jews, which strongly support democracy and pluralism.
The US Constitution's protection against unchecked religious interests shaping education can be seen as influenced by Judaism's commitment to pluralism and dynamic civil society. Jewish organizations have also played a role in shaping education policy through litigation and legislation, promoting separation of church and state.
