How do religious beliefs influence a societys laws

Regnerus goes on to suggest that religious affiliation had a positive impact on educational attainment for African-Americans residing in a high-risk neighborhood, even when controlling for family structure, although its effect was strongest for youth living in two-parent families.

Religious attendance is associated with direct decreases in both minor and major forms of crime and deviance, to an extent unrivalled by government welfare programs. See Effects of Religious Practice on Health. In a systematic review of the academic literature on the effects of religion, the majority of research revealed that religious commitment and practice can lead to increased self-esteem and well-being. The practice of religion not only stabilizes marriage , but also improves its quality.

Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia found that the more frequently husbands attended religious services, the happier their wives said they were with the level of affection and understanding that they received and the amount of time that their husbands spent with them. Parents who attend religious services are more likely to enjoy a better relationship with their children 27 and are more likely to be involved with their children's education.

Trace: Effects of Religious Practice on Society. Table of Contents 1. Education 2. Economy 2. Crime 4. Health 5. Family Relationships.

George Washington articulated the indispensability of the freedom of religious practice in his farewell address to the nation: Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.

In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness-these firmest props of the duties of Men and citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity.

Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?

And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. See Effects of Religious Practice on Education Because education is important in so many ways for all citizens, any factor that promotes academic achievement is important to the common good.

One is that the state can only justify a law on the grounds that it can be seen rationally and objectively to advance the general good I paraphrase. The question is, seen by whom? What counts as rational, objective and publicly beneficial is not at all self-evident but deeply contested, determined in the cut and thrust of democratic debate and certainly not by the subjective views of individual judges.

Religiously inspired political views — such as those driving the US civil rights movement of the s or the Burmese Buddhists today — have as much right to enter that contest as any others.

In this sense law can quite legitimately be influenced by religion. Laws' other claim is that religious belief is, for all except the holder, "incommunicable by any kind of proof or evidence", and that the truth of it "lies only in the heart of the believer". But many non-Christians, for example, recognise that at least some of the claims of Christianity — historical ones, no doubt, or claims about universal moral values — are capable of successful communication to and critical assessment by others.

Laws' assertion is also inconsistent with his own Anglican tradition, in which authority has never been seen as based on the subjective opinions of the individual but rather on the claims of "scripture, tradition and reason" acting in concert. Even more controversial is the issue of abortion.

That is 26 percent of the world. This prevents family planning worldwide and can be extremely detrimental to a woman's mental and physical health. People around the world say that abortion is immoral because it kills a living being. This is true -- abortion does kill a life, but in the same way that having scrambled eggs for breakfast kills baby chickens. Until 56 to 91 days sources differ a baby in the mother's womb is considered an embryo, and embryos cannot sense pain. In fact, many scientists believe even the fetus cannot feel pain until the third trimester , which is after about 99 percent of abortions are performed.

Abortion is purely the science of medicine and biology, therefore doctors are much more suited than religious leaders to say whether abortions are moral or not. Most scientists and doctors are absolutely fine with giving abortions and thus it would not be such a heated issue in the world if religion did not interfere.

Religious interference in such issues can create confusion amongst people who could mistake religious beliefs for science. All this does not mean, however, that I oppose religion. The moral and ethical codes religions emphasize are very beneficial to society. Religion is a wonderful thing if people are mature enough to realize that it is a belief and not a science. Religion was created to explain and console people on the world and how it works.

However, in this day and age, when science can explain many aspects of the natural world, religion should simply be looked upon as a tradition or belief and not a science and certainly not a law.

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