VIRTUAL CLASS - RELIGION (Activity 2)

Participants -

Please read the following information regarding Religious Freedom in the United States and in Argentina and post a comment in response to one of the fol

lowing questions:

1.  Have you personally experienced or do you have an example of the freedom of religion here in Argentina AND/OR the lack of religious freedom in Argentina?
   
2. Do you think religious freedom is an important right for citizens to have? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think the founding fathers of the United States were so determined to have the freedom of religion mentioned in the first amendment of the constitution?

Religious Freedom in the United States

"Religion in the United States is remarkable both in its high adherence level as well as its diversity. The First Amendment to the country's Constitution (See Below) explicitly forbids any official religion, and guarantees the free exercise

 of all faiths. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a "very important" role in their lives, a proportion unusual among developed nations, though similar to other nations in the Americas. Many faiths have flourished in the United States, including imports spanning the country's multicultural heritage as well as those founded within the country, and have led the United States to become the most religiously diverse country in the world." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States)

First Amendment to the United States Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting the 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."

Religious Freedom in Argentina

The Republic of Argentina states that "In the Argentine Republic no religion has an official character. The Roman Catholic Apostolic Church , the most traditional and also with the largest organized body, has a juridical status different from the rest of churches in line with the National Constitution, that supports this religion (Section 2º - See Below). However, apart from Catholicism, in our country there are over 2500 officially recognized cults and religions , that co–exist harmoniously, such as Protestantism, Pentecostalism, Judaism and Islamism, among many other creeds. In Argentina there is freedom of cult and religion consecrated in the National Constitution (Section 14º - See Below). Religions diversity has had a long tradition that honours our country. The legions of immigrants of the most diverse origin that arrived in our country in the first half of the past century gave our land an unquestionable universalistic, humanistic and plural seal. In that sense, the National Secretariat of Cult acts as the link between the national government and each of faith organizations." 

(www.argentina.gob.ar)

Artículo 2°- "El Gobierno federal sostiene el culto católico apostólico romano."

Artículo 14° - "Todos los habitantes de la Nación gozan de los siguientes derechos conforme a las leyes que reglamenten su ejercicio; a saber: De trabajar y ejercer toda industria lícita; de navegar y comerciar; de peticionar a las autoridades; de entrar, permanecer, transitar y salir del territorio argentino; de publicar sus ideas por la prensa sin censura previa; de usar y disponer de su propiedad; de asocon fines útiles; de profesar libremente su culto; de enseñar y aprender."