It’s against America’s values to discriminate on the basis of the content of a speech. This means that there is no reason we should not be allowed to display religion in the public sphere. Some people think that it’s not okay no matter what, others think it is alright as long as multiple religions are displayed, and others say that it is alright no matter what. I agree with the people who think it is always okay for religions to be displayed on public property, no matter what. If it’s not hurting you, there is no reason it can’t be there.
Religion in the public sphere is a big issue in the United States, and we need to focus on being religion neutral, not religion hostile. It seems now-a-days that American’s have an opinion on everything, and they definitely have an opinion on religious displays. Only 31% of people that do not attend religious services say no religious symbols should be allowed on public property. This means that almost 70% of people say it is alright. However, 28% of these people say it is only okay if it is accompanied by symbols of other faiths as well. Only 16% of people who attend church think no religion symbols should be allowed on public property.
Forty percent of people who attend church say it’s alright, no matter if it is accompanied by symbols of other faith or not. Overall, people belonging to the Republican party are more willing to allow religious symbols on public property than people of the Democratic party. Many churches in big cities rent out public buildings, such as schools, to hold religious services. Most people see churches as part of the community, however the New York City school system sees it differently. Three-fourths of US Adults say that churches positively benefit the community.
The New York City school system thinks that having church’s worship in their schools will confuse children. However, allowing churches to worship in empty public buildings will not confuse the children because many religions can still be present during school hours, not just the ones using the building. When people pay to use the government space, the government isn’t “favoring” their religion, they are simply making money while groups use their space. They don’t’ discriminate on which religions can rent space and which can’t, they all rent it when they want (Stetzer). By law, it’s okay to have Christmas Tree’s in a classroom.
According to the first amendment, artificial Christmas trees are allowed in a classroom because they are a secular symbol of the holiday season. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stated that the holiday season had “attached a secular status in our society” with the Christmas tree as the season’s “preeminent secular symbol” (qtd. in Bangor Daily News). Legally, it is not allowed to have permanent religious displays that clearly imply the government’s endorsement of a particular faith. Since putting up a tree in a classroom is not government endorsed, there should be no question that it is legal.
It’s not like the government is forcing teachers to display Christmas Tree’s or any other religious symbols, it is all by choice and as long as the teacher isn’t teaching about his/her religion it is alright (Bangor Daily News). There are some rules for teachers when it comes to religion. Teachers can teach how religion has affected human behavior, but it is not okay to teach on religion in general as a particular belief, or what they believe. Teachers aren’t allowed to talk about their beliefs because it could potentially sway a student’s personal beliefs.
This is alright, because students should have the right to have their beliefs, and be able to express them without being judged or punished. Students expressing their religion in (public) schools is okay by law, so everyone should just accept that. However, according to the constitution, some religious things are allowed, and others aren’t. It is okay for students for express their personal beliefs as long as it’s appropriate. This could be through a tee shirt, computer background, or book. However, it is not okay for schools to punish students for praying or being absent for religious holidays and ceremonies (“Religion”).
The cross is a Christian symbol, but some people don’t treat it that way. Some people say that at no time should the cross be displayed, because it is a Christian symbol, however, “there are times when displaying a cross or any religious symbol, can be appropriate in a public setting” (“Cross”). Currently, there is a cross being displayed at the 9/11 museum in New York City. It is a memorial, known as The Cross at Ground Zero. There is a lot of controversy over whether this is alright, and if it’s fair means other faiths don’t have symbols displayed.
It is okay because this cross was an object found when 2 beams hit each other during the attacks, and then the site later became a place where people went to pray and leave notes. It’s not hurting anybody, so there is no reason people should be freaking out over it. However, I’d agree it’s not okay for people to say the cross has become a “symbol of hope and healing for all persons” (qtd. in “Cross”). It’s not a symbol that non-Christians use, but it is alright to display it because it’s not hurting anybody, and it isn’t trying to sway people’s beliefs.
It is not the government trying to endorse Christianity, it is them trying to display what went on that fatal day in 2001. This cross is clearly understood by museum visitors as a symbol of “how some people used faith to cope with the tragedy” (qtd. in “Cross”). As Americans, we are supposed to have the freedom of speech, and the freedom of religion. However it seems that everywhere you look someone is getting in trouble for the ways they express their religion, whether it be through their words, actions, or ideas. There is absolutely nothing wrong with displaying your religion as long as it isn’t hurting anyone else.
If it is endangering anyone, or could possible harm someone, then it is not okay. However most times it is not that extreme, and it is no harm to anybody. Religious displays are ways that people express themselves, their religion is a part of their personality. Americans preach about being different and being unique, however if we are banned from expressing parts of our personality, it is more than slightly difficult to be yourself. Everyone is special in their own way, and has their own mind to choose what they want to believe.
Just because there is a cross in the town square won’t make a Muslim suddenly become Christian. As Americans, we are very stubborn, and we won’t change our beliefs just because someone else doesn’t believe the same thing as you do. Religion in the public sphere is a big issue, and being religion neutral is better than being religion hostile. Americans have an opinion on everything, and religious displays in public is definitely one of those things. Allowing churches to worship in an empty public school building is okay, and won’t confuse children.
Having a small artificial Christmas tree in the classroom for a week is also okay, because it isn’t permanent. There are rules for teachers when it comes to religion, and as long as they don’t endorse a particular religion, they aren’t breaking any rules. Having crosses in public places, such as the 9/11 museum, can have many other purposes than the government attempting to endorse a certain religion. The fact that we have freedom of religion is the best reason of all that public religious displays are okay, and we should fight until America is religion neutral, not religion hostile.
