American Literature

In sociology, one clear and truthful notion is that man needs nature and the forces around it in order to become someone of skills, knowledge and worth. The society is one factor in the development of an individual because the society develops the individual by dictating the norms and the cultures by which the person is expected to act accordingly. Social skills are as imperative as intellectual and emotional abilities. The school, for instance, has been viewed as one general source of almost all abilities reinforcing what has been taught to a child at home. The home in return, is expected to instill basic life skills, knowledge and values for the person to be initially geared up for survival. Finally, the church is another factor in honing a person to become someone of worth and value. Indeed, it is in this light that this essay agrees for the fact that religion has this great impact in the molding of not just a persons character but the entire societys public civil life. But this is not to say that religion has the sole monopoly of that role in molding citizenship.

The Church, the family and the school are three essential aspects of human life which man could not live without if the intention is to grow morally upright.

The pious instructions of my parents were often fresh in my mind, when I happened to be among wicked children, and were of use to me. Having a large family of children, they used frequently, on first-days, after meeting, to set us one after another to read the Holy Scriptures, or some religious books, the rest sitting by without much conversation I have since often thought it was a good practice. From what I had read and heard, I believed there had been, in past ages, people who walked in uprightness before God in a degree exceeding any that I knew or heard of now living and the apprehension of there being less steadiness and firmness amongst people in the present age often troubled me while I was a child. (Woolman, 178)

Here, Woolman attests to the convergence of religion and the home in weaving the standard moral uprightness required of him as a man. He further appreciates how his parents were able to infuse religious activities and other sacred endeavors in disciplining their children. Indeed, as children will be honed to become better people, they too are geared up to becoming individuals of worth that could turn the world into a better place to live in. As man is taught the real essence of life, he seeks for his purpose in simple yet meaningful ways. Crevecoeur was able to infuse the ideal American society into his writing of the Letters from an American Farmer. Crevecoeur viewed America as a society ideal for people to live in because it is enveloped in the absence of aristocratic class and religious intolerance.

Our religion does not oppress the cultivators We are strangers to those feudal institutions which have enslaved so many. Here, nature opens her broad lap to receive the perpetual accession of new comers, and to supply them with food. I am sure that I cannot be called a partial American when I say that the spectacle afforded b y these pleasing scenes must be more entertaining and more philosophical than that which rises from beholding the musty ruins of Rome. (Crevecoeur, 10)

This remark from Crevecoeur further proves the fact that religions setbacks are strong enough to influence the creation of an ideal society. Religion did not, in any way, oppress the American farmers in terms of feudalism thus, giving them freedom to cultivate their own culture and moral standards. Crevecoeur further analyzed richness and intellect as that of the soil cultivated and tilled to be capable of producing good crops.
Minister I felt perplexed and dry my mind was likened unto a parched soil which produced nothing, not even weeds. By the blessing of the heaven and my perseverance in study, I grew richer in thoughts, phrases and words Now I can abundantly teach by any text that occurs to my mind. (Crevecoeur, 16)

Thus, the mind and behavior of a person is honed by his belief to the Divine Power. Nourishment of the body comes in great beneficial relationship with the nourishment of the mind and the spirit. Religion has a great role in molding the entire society because its failure or success could either make or break life respectively.

There is a harmony in the sound of that voice to which Divine love gives utterance, and some appearance of right order in their temper and conduct whose passions are regulated yet these do not fully show forth that inward life to those who have not felt it this white stone and new name is only known rightly by such as receive it. (Wooolman, 182)

Ones recognition of the Divine Faith is indeed helpful in redirecting meaning and worth to life. Good people make up a good society. They are able to work according to their duties to their fellow men much more to themselves. It is through faith that one could live in selfless altruistic manner. Crevecoeur and Woolman are two brilliant writers who are able to give the right possibility of creating our own Utopia as long as we have a good grip of divine faith.

On the other hand, we cannot say that religion has the monopoly of providing the moral fiber of society. Public civil life and citizenship are such broad concerns of which religion may only be a part. As proof of this is that most European countries and highly industrialized societies have dwindling number of church goers and yet they are all good citizens. Other social institutions can account for good citizenship even without the role of religion. The government for example can provide incentives for voluntarism as well as punishment of crime. Thus the citizens are kept in check to always follow the law. The family in general can provide the basic values as to how one can live in society peacefully. The media can actually provide meaning and goals to individuals. There are other secular philosophies and systems of meaning that can replace the valuable role that religion can provide. When one is navigating society one is always kept in check not to violate social and cultural norms, mores, and codes of conduct. The modern forces of secularism, rationality and reason, science, and existential philosophies also help out in creating a suitable moral standing among people that does not violate the laws of charity and at the same time provide good citizenship.

So while we can say that religion is really important in molding ones character, citizenship and public civil life, there are other factors that help out doing the same role.