Religion creeps into and influences the society of America. America is the most diverse and democratic country of the world with 1st amendment of the constitution prohibiting congress from passing any law that would establish any religion in the state, but the traditional-deism of Americans has changed the meaning of law in its entirety. I am going to illustrate this point by examining the influence of religion on culture, politics, and sports.
American culture and history was shaped by the influence of religion. "God in America” stakes that one cannot tell the history of America without telling the religious history. America drew together religions from around the world, was transformed …show more content…
The legendry boxer - Mohammed Ali - sparked outrage by speaking out against integration of blacks and whites and many other controversial topics such as the Vietnam War. He gained further notoriety when he refused to enlist after being drafted for the war, citing that it was against his beliefs. He was later charged and convicted of draft evasion and stripped of his boxing titles and license in 1967. Born as Chris Wayne Jackson, Abdul Rauf, a point guard in the NBA from 1990-2001, was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1990 and converted to Islam a year later. He sparked controversy when he began protesting the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before games during the 1995-96 season. After refusing to stand for the song, claiming it was a sign of nationalistic worship that went against his beliefs; Rauf was suspended by the league in March 1996. His actions sparked negative attention from fans and fellow athletes. Rauf, however, claimed that he was simply exercising his rights of freedom of speech and religion. Decades old tradition of having prayers before the game has been challenged, as football game in Michigan state university was banned by American civil liberty union (ACLU) alleging that it is a violation of establishment clause and the religious freedom clause of the first amendment, adding that the student or faculty lead prayers will alienate those who do not believe. Local football coach after a ban on student lead prayers on the football field says “we do not have problem with freedom of religion, but if 98% of students want to and 2% do not then do not interrupt the 98% who do”. It is not him, but the influence of majority is dictating those words out of a citizen of a democratic