The Scarlet Letter Group

Question:


i2ain
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Do religious beliefs and laws work together? What is the relationship between religion and laws in "The Scarlet Letter"?

To what extent do religion and law mix in modern American society?

Thank you for any help provided. =]

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Posted by i2ain on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 5:35 AM and tagged with laws, relationship, religion, the scarlet letter.

Answers:


  1. mrs-campbell Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    In the novel, the Puritan society that they lived in operated under a very strict theocracy, which is a government that is dictated by their religious beliefs and laws.  So, if their religion said that adultery was wrong, then it was also against the law:  a double whammy for Dimmesdale and Hester.  In a theocracy, punishments are also often dicated by the Bible or religious authorities in the town.

    Today, many theocracies still exist-consider the Middle Eastern nations, or the Amish.  However, according to American law, there is to be a separation of church and state, so religion is not supposed to dictate any of our laws.  That is the law in its most idealistic form.  However, sometimes community values are shaped by religion, and then laws are made on those values, so the line separating church and state gets blurry. 

    I hope this helps!

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/scarlet/historical-context

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    Posted by mrs-campbell on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 7:43 AM