Religion and Government

As this lesson shows, religion and economics heavily influenced the establishment of several colonies. Religion continues to exert a strong influence over American society today as debates rage over how much or little separation of church and state should be allowed. How much influence should religion have over the government and our laws today? Should the United States base more of its laws and practices on religious based ideas or focus more on secular humanistic ideas? If religious based laws are needed, which religion should be America’s model? If Christianity, which branch Catholicism, Methodism, Baptist, Episcopalian, Mormonism, etc.? Finally, what should be the main influence upon our government and law and why?