Soon the U.S. Supreme Court will review an
abortion case. As an npr
broadcast informs us, this is the week, 47 years ago, that the court made the Roe v.
Wade decision.
The Disestablishment of
Christianity in America
Like others, I think the 1973 decision was
the “Wake-up call” for American Evangelicals who could see a trend toward a
more secular American society. I suggest the recent beginning of
the trend was the 25 June 1962 decision by the Supreme Court that judged a New
York prayer as a violation of the establishment clause in the U.S. Constitution
(See Engel v. Vitale).
The next year, 1963, the court ruled against Abington school district’s
practice of saying the Lord’s Prayer and reading the Bible (See
Abington School District v. Schempp).
A Tough Yet Sweet Pill to Swallow
The small pill that started a revolution. I’m
exaggerating of course. But it’s hard to ignore the contribution of the birth
control pill to undoing the power of sexual purity preaching by clergy in many religions
including Christianity. The pill was arguably one of the best contraceptives to
come along. It was approved in 1960 (see
pbs for a history of the pill) and faced considerable opposition through
the 60s even as Christian and non-Christian women embraced it in huge numbers.
It was 1968 when Pope Paul VI published his manifesto opposing the pill. Birth
control wasn’t just for married women anymore. It didn’t take long for teens to
figure out they could enjoy sex without the consequences of creating a child or
remembering to buy a condom. Yet for some thinkers, the pill contained
implications for life. While abortion ended a life in process, the pill
prevented the beginning of life. Note also, that early on, life ethics were the
focus of Catholics rather than the Protestant Evangelicals.
Moral Majorities and Minorities
It was 1979 when Rev. Jerry Falwell formed
the Moral Majority,
which was devoted to promoting conservative social values in the political
arena. Falwell pointed to the Roe v. Wade decision as a focal point, but of
course that was six years ago so, not exactly a next-day reaction. Next year,
Ronald Reagan became president. His ties to Christianity were obvious in his
calls for a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in schools (Ed Week,
1982). By 1989, Jerry Falwell announced the closing of the Moral Majority
organization. Since then, a variety of other groups have continued to extend
the legacy fighting for laws that reflect conservative Christian values.
The Rainbow and the Flood
As the right-left tug of war continued over
one issue or another, one Supreme Court ruling blew the roof off the American
Ark of religious safety as if a flood had buried Christian culture. It was 26
June 2015 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex
marriage. The rainbow flag waved from sea to shining sea (see gay marriage
story on history.com).
The Right Rises Again, But
Only So Far
So, we come back to the present. I’m at a
disadvantage because I’m neither a sociologist nor a historian. As a psychologist,
I know it’s difficult to predict human behavior. My impression is that a
substantial portion of humanity will always be religious, but the varieties of
faith traditions ensure that at least a modicum of religious tolerance is vital
to avoiding bloodshed.
In keeping with American capitalism, religious
organizations will continue to compete with each other for membership and
charitable donations. Even in Christian America, there is a substantial variety
of groups or denominations holding out their distinctives and inviting people
to visit their services and events. Many do link themselves to meta-groups like
the National Association of Evangelicals. Here they can share common beliefs
and values. Nevertheless, the groups retain their individual identities, which
influence the identities of their members.
In a pluralistic and competitive context,
infighting is sure to continue for centuries in any semifree society (no
society is ever free from all rules and regulations).
Religious freedom is both the blessing and bane of religious groups.
Sacred texts & prayer
They may only advance their values and
rules so far before another group cries foul. Thus, sacred texts and religious
prayers are allowed in schools as long as the school is not promoting one
religion to all students. One student may pray for help on a test. Another may
cry “omg.” And another may join with friends and read their sacred text. That’s
religious freedom. Before 1963, religious freedom was exclusive. Since 1963,
religious freedom is inclusive.
Religious freedom is inclusive.
Pregnancies and Emotion-linked Arguments
The battle over the rights of the unborn to
life will also continue (e.g., Decision,
2020). Extremists will lose. Humans are naturally disgusted to see human body
parts and tiny babies destroyed. The religious right tapped into the powerful emotion
behind the morality to target our human motivation to protect the vulnerable
among us.
Reasoned arguments are for judges—not the populace.
But judges aren’t devoid of human emotion
and the pull of family relationships. The religious left has agonized over
their dual concern for the lives of the unborn and the lives of teen mothers
who have become pregnant due to rape, which ought to be equally disgusting.
This is where some right-wing extremists miss the emotional point—they focus on
the fetus and appear to forget the anxious girls who must give birth if there
is a 100% ban on ending all pregnancies (e.g., elementary
school girls).
I think it instructive that despite the Republican party platform's prolife stance, when they controlled the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives in 2018, they did not pass a ban on abortion or a bill limiting abortion to 20 weeks. They did send conservatives to the Supreme Court, but the votes show that not even the "prolife party" members have mixed views when it comes to a total ban (abortion ban fails..Senate).
I think it instructive that despite the Republican party platform's prolife stance, when they controlled the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives in 2018, they did not pass a ban on abortion or a bill limiting abortion to 20 weeks. They did send conservatives to the Supreme Court, but the votes show that not even the "prolife party" members have mixed views when it comes to a total ban (abortion ban fails..Senate).
Gay Rights
I’d predict the rights of sexual minorities
are here to stay. So many Americans have come around to supporting people who identify
themselves as gay or lesbian. Last year, American support for gay marriage
stood at 63% (Gallup,
2019). The battles won’t end (e.g., Decision,
2020). Civil rights for minorities always take time. The harsh attacks on homosexuals as sinners won’t end soon. That’s part of religious
freedom too. Those who remember the battle over World Vision’s flip-flop
decision over same-sex marriages (The
Atlantic) know that money has the power to change values. That's part of freedom and capitalism as well.
Hope
As long as we live in a constitutional
republic with a representative form of democracy and a regulated form of
capitalist economy, we’ll surely be among the luckiest people on earth.
Freedom
of Speech, the Press, Religion, and more are in the amended constitution (Bill
of Rights).
You’d be forgiven if you thought America’s
famous “Four Freedoms” is not a list from the Constitution but part of FDR’s
famous speech in which he forgot number five (politico).
Nevertheless, I think it part of human nature to seek freedom. Sometimes the battle for freedom leads to chaos and sometimes freedom lovers fight wars against those who would enslave them for religious or
political reasons. But for now, we have considerable freedom compared to people
of yore.
May we never bow to potentates who would impose their not so privately
held beliefs to stifle freedoms that do not harm our neighbors.
A Related Book
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