The American Experience of Religious Disestablishment and Pluralism

• Published in: Social compass Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 345 - 356
• Main Authors: D'Antonio, William V., Hoge, Dean R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.09.2006; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: American studies; Bill of rights; Church and state; Church State Relationship; Constitution; Constitutions; First Amendment-US; Freedom; Freedom of religion; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Pluralism; Political behavior; Religion & politics; Religion and politics; Religious Pluralism; Religious studies; U.S.A; United States of America; USA; United States; US; Bill of Rights; disestablishment; Church–State pluralism; Constitution; religious freedom
• ISSN: 0037-7686; 1461-7404
• DOI: 10.1177/0037768606066845

English In 1791, the Founding Fathers of the United States added the First Amendment to the Constitution saying that the nation would have no established religion. This was a new experiment in Church–State relations. The writers of the amendment were fearful of concentrations of power. We now know that the First Amendment had a positive, not a negative effect on religious institutions. In the past two centuries, trials of the First Amendment arose due to issues over postal service on Sunday, religious polygamy, Sunday closing laws for businesses, and prayer in public schools. The American experience shows that disestablishment of religion does not weaken religious institutions, but rather strengthens them. It is a principle that is constantly being challenged by groups with strong religious beliefs who strive for some form of establishment. French En 1971, les Pères Fondateurs des Etats-Unis ajoutèrent à la Constitution le Premier Amendement qui stipulait que la nation n'aurait pas de religion d'Etat. En termes de relations Eglise-Etat, c'était une expérience inédite. La raison qui avait poussé les auteurs à rédiger cet amendement était la crainte d'une concentration des pouvoirs. Contrairement à ce que l'on pensait, les effets de ce Premier Amendement sur les institutions religieuses furent en réalité positifs. Au cours des deux derniers siècles, des modifications furent apportées à cet amendement à propos de questions telles que le service postal du dimanche, la polygamie religieuse, l'obligation pour les entreprises de fermer le dimanche et la prière dans les écoles publiques. L'expérience américaine montre que la séparation de l'Eglise et de l'Etat n'affaiblit pas les institutions religieuses, mais au contraire les renforce. Ce principe de séparation est constamment remis en question par des groupes aux croyances religieuses fortes qui cherchent à mettre en place une forme de religion d'Etat.