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CJ Seese

Mrs. DeBock

English IV Honors

23 February, 2017

Essential Question: Why are religious freedom laws necessary?

Working Thesis: Religious freedom laws are necessary so people can express whatever religion

they believe in.

Refined Thesis Statement: People need to stop believing religious freedom laws are

discriminatory because the real purpose of the laws are for people to express the religion they

worship.

Annotated Bibliography

Chaput, Charles J. "The United States Was Founded on Religious Liberty." Religious Liberty,

edited by Carol Ullmann and Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing

Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Accessed 19 Feb. 2017. Originally

published as "Our First Right: Religious Liberty," Crisis Magazine, 11 Apr. 2013.

Charles Chaputs article describes how the United States was founded on religious

freedom. Religious freedom and religion in general became a necessity to all people throughout

all of america. This is due to our founding fathers also finding religion to be a life necessity.

Chaput also explains how religious freedom also meant having a religious relationship with

society. If the relationship is not present the words of prayer are just empty words. In the final

part of Chaputs article he explains how religious freedom is being threatened by the general
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public due to the religious convictions. Chaputs article shows why religious freedom is

necessary due to america being built off of religious freedom.

Chernus, Ira. "Religious Freedom Does Not Strengthen America." American Values, edited by

David M. Haugen, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints

in Context, Accessed 19 Feb. 2017. Originally published as "Is Religion a Threat to

Democracy? Faith Talk on the Campaign Trail," www.TomDispatch.com, 13 Jan. 2008.

Ira Chermuss article argues how religious freedom does not strengthen america. She

argues how politicians use religion to help assure people through americas tough times.

Religion is a threat to democracy due to everthing must be open to debate. Politicians rely on

religious talk in order to assure the certainty of a certain policy or law. Chermuss argument also

states that the candidates use religious talk only for themselves in order to get votes. Chermuss

point is to not take religion out of politics but it is to use in in the right way and not just to sway

voters. Chermuss article will allow to build a counter argument in why religious freedom laws

are not necessary.

Institute for Humanist Studies. "Religious Freedom Laws Are Discriminatory and Unnecessary."

Atheism, edited by Beth Rosenthal, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Originally published as "Why

Does the IHS Oppose RFRA in New York State?", 2007.

This article from the Institute for Humanist Studies is about how religious freedom laws

are discriminatory and unnecessary. This group argues that the Religious Freedom Restoration
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Act (RFRA) is unnecessary due to religious freedom being protected by the U.S. Bill of Rights.

In the article it is explained how the RFRA is discriminatory and unnecessary due to it giving

special preferences to certain religions. The RFRA could also reverse supreme court rulings

from the past all according to religious freedom. This article will help support my thesis because

it talks more about the RFRA. It will also give my thesis and research paper more of a

counterargument standpoint.

Klicka, Christopher J. "Religious Freedom Laws Are Necessary." Atheism, edited by Beth

Rosenthal, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Originally published as "Religious Freedom Is

Endangered: How We Can Fight Back," Practical Homeschooling, vol. 67, Nov.-Dec.

2005, p. 16.

Klickas article talks about why religious freedom laws are necessary. He explains how

the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) has been struck down by the federal

government. He proposes that each state should have its own Religious Freedom Act due to over

a quarter of the states have acted to protect religious freedom of their citizens. He also explains

how if the Religious Freedoms acts do get passed in each state that they could protect the rights

of the homeschooled. This article helps prove my thesis because it explains why these Religious

freedom acts are needed and are necessary to protect the people's rights.

Marshall, Jennifer A. "Religious Freedom Is Necessary for American Values to Flourish."

American Values, edited by David M. Haugen, et al., Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing
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Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Accessed 21 Feb. 2017. Originally

published as "Why Does Religious Freedom Matter?" Heritage, 10 Dec. 2010.

Marshalls article is about why religious freedom is necessary for american values to

flourish. She explains how religious freedom is a cornerstone of the american culture. The

article explains how the engagement of religion was encouraged by the founding fathers

themselves. Religious freedom also can limit government power and breed the good type of

governments. She believes religious freedom is a birthright of all people but not enough

governments acknowledge it. This article supports my thesis because it helps support why

religious freedom is necessary by connecting it to the american government. It also gives the

standpoint of why america itself needs religious freedom.

"Point: Religious Freedom Laws Protect Strongly Held Religious Beliefs And Convictions."

Points Of View: Religious Freedom Laws (2016): 7. Points of View Reference Center.

Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

This article is about how religious freedom laws protect strongly held religious beliefs

and convictions. The article argues that people must be able to live their faith and free of

government influence. The article also states the point that states should have their own

Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Religious freedom laws are also not to be

discriminatory to the religious people but are meant to stop the government from discriminating

against religious americans. I chose this article because it helps prove why these religious

freedom laws are necessary. It also shows how these laws are not discriminatory as well.
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