Secularism in Massachusetts
Introduction
The development and transformation of the state of Massachusetts have been quite intriguing as a result of the historical events that took place in the state. This perhaps is due to the religious beliefs of the puritans who tried to establish the city upon a hill where they would try to do God's work on Earth and specifically this land of which they occupied in. It is apparent that the role of religion in the 17th and 18th centuries was crucially important to the state on which its state government constitution was found on puritan belief. This, however, did not last long as a result of the enlightenment era, which slowly transformed the perception of religion in America and made it a secular nation to solve the problems that were presented when the Church and the state were merged, the secularist phenomenon does move to the state of Massachusetts as a result and in turn, would transform the political landscape of Massachusetts as well as its identity as a state.
Picture of St. Leonard’s Church
The Enlightenment Era
Weimar’s Courtyard of the Muses
During the years between 1685 to 1815 came an era of enlightenment. In this era came a select group of men who started to question their ideas and their existence and develop a comprehensive system in which they could perceive the world around them. Part of that perception should explore one's nature, religion, and attitudes towards human beings and the political establishment that they are in. Names such as Thomas Paine, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin are in the discussion when mentioning the enlightenment era. Their main collective contribution to the mission of enlightenment was to relay their ideas on scientific inquiry, accept the teachings of other religions, and look at the structure of politics and what it is that a society should collectively aim towards.
When looking at the age of enlightenment in America and the rhetoric produced in that time frame, it is apparent that the quest for moral and universal truths was heavily taken upon to establish further a state that is comprised of on moral-political theory that is built upon an understanding of human nature. This, however, may not be as simple as it seems as a result of the difference between human beings. Influential thinkers such as Lock, Kant, and Jefferson came up with what rights each human being should possess and that society should exist to benefit the individuals living in it. However, for these ideas to be implemented, religious and political toleration had to be implemented for this to happen. The political tensions between the English crown and the American colonies during the years preceding the American revolution deeply influenced the resentment of the American colonies towards the English crown as a result of their tyrannical behavior. This incentivized America to break away from this and govern themselves using their own rules inspired by the previously aforementioned ideals. And thus, after the reformation of the articles of confederation, the bill of rights and the U.S. Constitution were formed to permit a perfect union between the states and give the governed the bill of rights to protect them from the government.
Religion in the Constitution
In the proposal of the U.S. constitution, the drafters acknowledged the role of religion in the sense of a moral, political order that would serve society to become one that is productive. However, they realized the political establishments of Europe saw a major primary problem in which the state was under the direct control of the state, which is a danger to the Church as well as the state because it would propose laws that would hurt the state, or it would change its traditions which would, unfortunately, lead to a corrupt church. Therefore, secularism in the U.S. was not a particular political ambition to eradicate the Church but to protect it and protect the state. This is the reasoning as to why this model of secularism has been implemented in the U.S. constitution. The bill of rights and namely its is the first amendment which states explicitly that:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The primary architect of the U.S. Constitution was James Madison and the delegates from twelve states at the convention who intended to give people their rights and freedoms in each state.
An illustration of the Bill of Rights and the first amendment
Battle for Secularism
During the period between the 18th century and the 19th century, the state governments started to emerge out of its shell and looked at progressive laws that would further develop the state economically, socially, and politically. This, of course, led to rethinking the position of organized religion in the state and the implications that it would present. Such problems would be if the government started forcing people to comply with the dominating religion and taxation for a church in which one does not believe and further stigma in a criminal court or even face harassment in the work or school setting. In the establishment of the state of Massachusetts, religious duties were highly mandatory. They were to be conducted by each citizen, and it would be considered by law to be a crime to disobey these duties.
Such a case that held the problem of forcing religion was in 1810, Barnes v. Inhabitants of First Parish in Falmouth – Massachusetts. In the case of Barns, as to quote the author of statelegalhistory.com that.
"the minister Barnes forced the local churchgoers (parish members) to pay taxes for the minister's salary. Which was then straightforwardly rejected by Massachusetts's supreme court, which meant that religious freedom in the eyes of the law did not mean freedom from taxation for their local Church."
In another case in the year 1817, Adams v. Howe – Massachusetts, the court discusses how it is not up to the legislative branch to make anything that disrupts the act of worship of the people of any denomination. More and more progression has led to the separation of Church and state in the case Oakes v. Hill in the year 1830. In this case, a Democratic-leaning court member by the name of Marcus Morton drafted the idea of
"Massachusetts follows through with secularism due to most states that have gone through with it before Massachusetts. Hence, the Church's support by the state ended in the year of 1833 after the request of Morton."
And thus, in the year 1833, secularism in the state has been fully implemented, and moving forward would leave a long-lasting legacy for the state government to propose a legislature that would never support the Church in any way. Instead, the state government would medal in the affairs of the general welfare of Massachusetts while leaving their citizens the freedom to practice religion in their own way.
Conclusion
After considering the enlightenment phases the United States as a country has been through, as well as the U.S. constitution that has granted any citizen the freedom to practice their type of worship, it seems to be inevitable that secularism in all states would occur. That the state would not back the churches, nor would the state be supported by the Church. It must be stated, though, that the success of the economy and current educational establishments of Massachusetts lies deeply on the actions of the forefathers of Massachusetts who deeply believed in a puritan theocratic form of the government, and that even in modern times, Massachusetts as a known as industrial revolutionists and are known as the forefront for their technological, educational and medical ambitions worldwide.
References
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