Topic > How Judaism Helped Modern American Society

Judaism is the monotheistic religion of the Israelites. It is the oldest monotheistic religion and was founded about 3,500 years ago in the Middle East. Judaism has not only influenced the other two monotheistic religions, but has also influenced Western culture today. Above all, Judaism has helped modern American society through due process, the rule of law, and individual worth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay First, it affected due process. There is evidence in the Sixth Amendment. The Sixth Amendment not only talks about the right to speed, but also the right to due process. “In all criminal proceedings, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, before an impartial jury of the State and district in which the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; confront the witnesses against him; have a mandatory process to obtain witnesses in your favor and have the assistance of a lawyer for your defense. This evidence shows that the founding fathers also wanted fairness and truth, and not just accusations that determine someone's future. This also establishes the level of fairness in society. Secondly, it affected the rule of law. There is evidence right in our school. At Duxbury Middle School there is a set of rules called the DMS Handbook. There are several rules, from how they handle behavioral incidents to the dress code. For example, a rule about chewing gum: “Because chewing gum has not been disposed of properly and has interfered with a positive school climate, chewing gum will not be permitted. If, after being notified, the student continues to chew gum, the student will be subject to the rules set forth in the Code of Conduct. Rules exist to prevent chaos, keep people in line, and establish boundaries. Plus, if you think about it, rules are everywhere. There are national and state laws, rules in public places like schools and work offices, rules that children must follow at home, and the list goes on and on. Many places still value the law code, even though many, many years have passed. Finally, Judaism influenced individual worth. As quoted by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Equality is the key to success. We cannot all succeed if some are held back, or told they are not worthy of something, or forbidden to do something. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay fast forward back 3,500 years ago. The rule of law was in place and there were the 10 commandments, with rules such as not stealing, not killing others, honoring elders and many others. Due process was in place to find out who was telling the truth in a trial. Individual worth was assessed. Now let's go back to today. There are laws in every state and general laws for the entire country. A fair trial takes place every day in court and fairness is a part of society, as children are taught to be fair and fairness is considered a good characteristic to have. Individual worth is improving every day with slavery being outlawed, women having the same rights as men, and gay marriage being legal. Judaism has had an impact on Western civilizations, starting with America.