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Secular vs. Religious Thinking

Introduction

There have been numerous events and movements that have resulted from secular or religious thinking. The history has evolved shaping the world views of people and creating drastic changes in the world. In the 16th century, a religious movement by Luther of the Latin Christian church introduced Protestantism. The judicial system along with the education system of the United States eliminated the need for prayers in public schools all over America. Lastly, the New England Puritanism of the 17th century has great significance in American history. All these events are seen as very important changes in the history of America.

Discussion

Luther instigated a split in the Latin Christian Church in 1517 and brought about the Protestant movement. There were many others who participated in the movement, which evolved over the next decades and centuries to carve the values of Protestants all over the world. There were so many different ideas of the people, which resulted in the reformations. One of the major changes due to Protestantism was that the act of confession was replaced by the simple belief of faith, the Grace of God, and learning. Additionally, a new church for the Protestants was built that did not need a central hierarchy. It only had one preacher and a whole community of believers (TS, 2008).

The act of performing or saying prayer was removed from the public schools in America and it is a true example of secular thinking. “ By the judicial act of forbidding invocation, the Court audaciously elevated a secularized system of education beyond the authority, reach and blessing of God Himself ” (Bergel, 1988, pp. 01). This occurred in the 1960s and stripped the words of the Lord from the lips of children in schools. When children will not be saying the name of the Lord in school, where they spend most of their time, they are likely to develop a secular thinking themselves. The law has faltered terribly and now, people can see the results of the drastic change that occurred decades ago.

The New England Puritanism on the 17th century has had an impact of the developments that took place in the United States of America. There are a number of scholars that have been arguing about the different elements of Puritanism that existed and still exist in the society and culture of the United States of America. This was another religious movement that had its effects of the history of the United States, and it was unavoidable. Puritanism was also a main contributor to Wesley's unorthodox churchmanship after he became a field preacher in 1739. There have been a number of verbal formulations in the early Congregation and Presbyterian clergy. The formulations that occurred in the New World of the time had an impact on the social, economic, political and religious thinking of the people of America till now (Elliot, 2008).

Conclusion

There are a number of examples that can be discussed in America's history that have been brought about due to ...