Primary Sources

• Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789): https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp
• Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791): https://revolution.chnm.org/d/293
• Declaration of Independence (1776): https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp
• Declaration of Sentiments (1848): https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/senecafalls.asp

Question: How might one or more of these declarations either uphold or reject established religious principles or facets of society that are supported by religion?

Response:

All four of the declarations I reviewed uphold some established religious principles, such as the belief in a higher power and the importance of moral values. However, they also reject some established religious principles and facets of society that are supported by religion.

For example, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) proclaims that “all men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” This principle is in line with the Christian belief that all people are created in the image of God and are therefore equal. However, the Declaration also rejects the Catholic Church’s authority over civil matters, and it establishes a secular government.

The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen (1791) goes even further in rejecting established religious principles and facets of society that are supported by religion. For example, it calls for the abolition of marriage as a religious institution and for the establishment of civil marriage. It also calls for the education of women and for their equal rights to property and inheritance.

The Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Declaration of Sentiments (1848) both uphold the principle of religious freedom. However, they also reject the established religious hierarchies of their time. For example, the Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal” and that they are endowed with certain “unalienable Rights,” including the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This principle is in line with the Christian belief that all people are equal in the eyes of God. However, the Declaration also rejects the authority of the British monarchy, which was closely tied to the Church of England.

The Declaration of Sentiments goes even further in rejecting established religious hierarchies. For example, it calls for the abolition of religious oaths and for the separation of church and state. It also calls for the equal rights of women, including the right to vote and to hold public office.

In conclusion, all four of the declarations I reviewed uphold some established religious principles, such as the belief in a higher power and the importance of moral values. However, they also reject some established religious principles and facets of society that are supported by religion. This is because these declarations were written during a time of great social and political change, when people were challenging traditional institutions and authorities.

Discussion:

The fact that these declarations uphold some established religious principles while rejecting others is significant because it shows that the authors of these documents were not simply trying to overthrow religion altogether. Rather, they were trying to create a new social and political order that was based on the principles of equality, liberty, and justice. These principles are in line with many of the core teachings of Christianity and other religions.

However, it is important to note that these declarations also reflect the Enlightenment ideals of reason and secularism. These ideals led to a rejection of some traditional religious beliefs and practices. For example, the Enlightenment thinkers believed that religion should be a private matter and that the government should not interfere in religious affairs. This led to the separation of church and state, which is a fundamental principle of many modern democracies.

In conclusion, the four declarations I reviewed reveal a complex and nuanced relationship between religion and society in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The authors of these documents were both upholding and rejecting established religious principles and facets of society that were supported by religion. This reflects the fact that they were living in a time of great social and political change, when people were challenging traditional institutions and authorities. The Enlightenment ideals of reason and secularism also played a role in shaping the authors’ views on religion.