ipl-logo

Should Religion And State Be Separate Regarding Women's Reproductive Rights In America?

1773 Words8 Pages

Should Religion and State be Separated While Decisions Making Concerning Women's Reproductive Rights in America?
The separation of religion and state has been a longstanding debate in American politics, particularly when it comes to women's reproductive rights. On one hand, religious beliefs can provide a moral compass and personal guidance for individuals, while on the other hand, allowing these beliefs to influence political decisions can have negative consequences. In Sophocles' Antigone, the protagonist's decision to defy the king's decree and bury her brother highlights the tension between personal beliefs and state authority. Similarly, in modern times, religious beliefs have influenced political decisions regarding women's reproductive …show more content…

Antigone believed that it was her moral duty to give her brother a proper burial, despite the king's decree prohibiting it. This conflict is evident in Antigone's dialogue with her sister Ismene: "Ismene, I am going to bury him. Will you come?" (Antigone, 86) "But how can I? I am so afraid for you." (Ismene, 88) "I will not ask you, or if I do, you will not come." (Antigone, 89) Antigone's decision to defy the king's decree and bury her brother represents an act of civil disobedience, which challenges the authority of the state and raises questions about the limits of state power. Antigone's actions also represent the tension between personal beliefs and state authority, as she believes that her moral duty to give her brother a proper burial overrides the king's decree. The conflict between personal beliefs and state authority in Antigone is also evident in the dialogue between Antigone and Creon, the king: "Your edict, King, was strong, but all your strength is weakness itself against the immortal unrecorded laws of God. They are not merely now: they were, and shall be, …show more content…

The issue of abortion is a prime example of this conflict. In a 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, it was found that 54% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 44% believe it should be illegal in all or most cases (Pew Research Center, 2019). Religious beliefs play a significant role in shaping these opinions. According to the same survey, 77% of white evangelical Protestants believe that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while 70% of religiously unaffiliated Americans believe that it should be legal in all or most cases. Religious beliefs have influenced political decisions regarding abortion in America. In 2020, the Supreme Court heard a case regarding a Louisiana law that required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. This law was heavily influenced by religious beliefs and was supported by anti-abortion activists. However, women's rights advocates and health organizations argued that this law would lead to the closure of abortion clinics and limit women's access to safe and legal abortions. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down the Louisiana law, stating that it placed an "undue burden" on women's access to abortion (CNN, 2020). The intersection

Show More
Related

  • How Does Antigone Criticize Creon's Law

    1470 Words  | 6 Pages

    Also, while Antigone is fully motivated to give her family a proper burial, Antigone also criticizes her family, Ismene, for being too much of a sissy and a conformist. For illustration, Ismene insists that whether they agree with or authorize Creon's action is fully inapplicable since Creon is the sovereign of Thebes, and thus, they must “ observe the bones who stand in power ”( Sophocles, 62). Ismene’s belief that simply following Creon’s law is the stylish course of action easily reveals the antipode between her and Antigone. While Ismene wants to bury Polynices just as important as Antigone does, she doesn't believe that burying her family is enough of a defense to simply ignore the law, and clearly enough to die for. This contradiction

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Antigone And Creon

    686 Words  | 3 Pages

    Antigone is the strong-willed and stubborn daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. Her argument is in opposition to her uncle, King Creon. Antigone is propelled by grief to unlawfully bury her brother. She argues that "I shall suffer nothing so great as to stop me dying with honor" (96-97). In her view, she believes that not burying her brother, dishonors both herself and her brother.

    Read More

  • Polyneices And Antigone

    114 Words  | 1 Pages

    " It has come to our notice that the war between Polyneices and Eteocles has angered the people of Thebes and has led Antigone to go against her uncle Creon the King. The new law states that Polyneices is to not have a burial, that no man is to touch him or say the least prayer for him." As soon as the law was established Antigone was infuriated. Antigone decided to tell Ismene her plan, she was not going to be stopped even if she died in the process of honoring her brother. Ismene was starting to think that her sister was going mad and wished to not be a part of her actions.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Creon In Antigone

    883 Words  | 4 Pages

    For example, when she puts aside her grave fear of consequence to traverse the bridge. Antigone is overwhelmed by her own stubbornness, which leads to a tragic situation. Antigone refuses to compromise with her sister, Ismene, whom when she first learns of her brother's death. Antigone's unrepressed emotions gives a voice of dissatisfaction with Creon’s. Ever since Antigone gets herself in that situation facing Creon’s wrath, but still she doesn’t make a decision on how to bury her brother.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Tragic Flaws In Antigone

    692 Words  | 3 Pages

    Moreover, by saying “I will bury the brother I love”, she shows her stubbornness because she acts against Creon’s decree, which states that the body of Polyneices will not be buried, and that who performs the burial for him will be stoned to death. The tragic fate of Antigone is death, which results from her tragic flaws, loyalty and stubbornness. The speech “To me, since it was my hand That washed him clean and poured the ritual wine: And my reward is death before my time!”

    Read More

  • Examples Of Civil Disobedience In Antigone

    698 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Antigone first hears her brother, Polyneices, was prohibited from a proper burial because of Creon’s rules, she immediately does not accept it. Antigone's first instinct is to rely on her sister, which shows her loyalty to her family. She asks her sister Ismene to help her "Lift up his body." (61) Ismene is less determined to deny Creon's law and she refuses to help her. Antigone is furious with Ismene because Antigone always stays loyal and chooses to put her family first .

    Read More

  • Personal Belief In Antigone

    1433 Words  | 6 Pages

    Antigone also shows that by taking action on a personal belief is stronger than something forbidden because she goes against the town’s laws to fill her belief. Creon, the ruler of Thebes, places a law on Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, that he shall never be buried, Antigone breaks the law to bury him. In the play Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are talking about the burial of Polyneices because Ismene does not agree with Antigone. Antigone says, “Ismene, I am going to bury him.

    Read More

  • Antigone Is Right Essay

    1429 Words  | 6 Pages

    This shows that Antigone is following her own moral code rather than what someone else decrees her to do. Antigone confides in Ismene to join her in fighting for a proper burial, but Ismene refuses because of her fear of speaking

    Read More

  • Antigone Rhetorical Analysis

    932 Words  | 4 Pages

    Antigone uses both logical and emotional appeals to persuade her sister Ismene that their brother Polyneices should be honored and have a proper burial. During an argument between Antigone and Ismene, Ismene believes that the law should be obeyed therefore she will not help Antigone. Antigone states, “Polyneices, who fought as bravely and died as miserably…no one shall bury him, no one mourn for him… his body must lie in the fields (Sophocles et al.190).” Antigone is trying to communicate to Ismene through the use of an emotional and logical appeal by explaining that he was, left to be decomposed by the birds. In the Greek culture, having a burial is a civic and religious duty which is necessary to proceed to the afterlife unaffected.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Kreon In Antigone

    978 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the play, “Antigone” by Sophocles, one of the main characters Antigone, shows us that through determination and bravery we can accomplish the things that scare us the most. Kreon, the new ruler of Thebes, has put a ban on burying Polyneikes, Antigone's brother because he betrayed the city. Antigone wants to go against Kreons law because of the respect she has not only for her brother but the respect she has for the Gods law. Antigone has learned what law Kreon has set for the people of Thebes, they were told that they must not bury the body of Polyneikes. She sets out to find her sister, Ismene, and tell her the upsetting news about their brother.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Foil In Antigone

    532 Words  | 3 Pages

    (Ismene) My own brother and yours I will! If you will not, I will i shall not prove disloyal (Antigone) You are mad! When creon has forbidden it” (Ismene). Antigone is driven by a strong sense of morality and believes that it is her duty to give her brother Polyneices a proper burial, even if it means going against Creon.

    Read More

  • Roe V. Wade Argumentative Essay

    1038 Words  | 5 Pages

    Before Roe v. wade the number of deaths from illegal abortions was around 5000 and in the 50s and 60s the number of illegal abortions ranged from 200,000 to 1.2 million per year. These illegal abortions pose major health risks to the life of the woman including damage to the bladder, intestines as well as rupturing of the uterus. The choice to become a mother must be given to the woman most importantly because it’s her body, her health, and she will be taking on a great responsibility. A woman’s choice to choose abortion should not be restricted by anyone; there are multiple reasons why abortion will be the more sensible decision for the female.

    Read More

  • What Is The Theme Of Sacrifice In Antigone

    1027 Words  | 5 Pages

    Antigone chooses to bury her brother against the king's decree, stating, "I did not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwritten unalterable laws of God and heaven, you being only a man" (Sophocles, 441 BC, lines 449-452). This highlights the

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Antigone

    483 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antigone believes she should have the right of her brother’s burial. Creon states, “No one shall burry him, no one mourn for him” (Sophocles 2) illustrating that Polyneicis is irrelevant in the city of Thebes. The law in Greek society is a female should not have power or freedom over any circumstance. Antigone demands rights over her brother and will not accept

    Read More

  • Creon's Treatment Of Women In Antigone

    644 Words  | 3 Pages

    Antigone desires to escape from these traditions as she is disappointed with Ismene’s passiveness, urging her to stand up for what is morally right. Ismene refuses to go against Creon’s presiding insisting that they “must obey this order, even if it hurts us more… forgive me I am held back by force.” This concept of male authority depicts Ismene to be compliant to men while being fearful of men’s power. She refuses to bury her own brother as a result. Antigone was determined to do what’s right no matter the

    Read More

More about Should Religion And State Be Separate Regarding Women's Reproductive Rights In America?

Open Document