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reflects those values" (Wallis 17).

Locke says that without God, there is no state of nature. Without God, a magistrate doesn't have to do the "right" thing. For Americans, I believe that definition of God can be altered to include a more general sense of spirituality and traditional morals that include concern for the fact that the divorce rate is constantly rising, the family unit is being broken down, and "individual ethics" (Wallis 17) are sometimes left out of politics completely. They are almost a "Lockean" group of people who refuse to make the choice between morality and progressive politics they see that the balance of church and state, instead of the separation we experience today, can truly be achieved successfully in America.

Conclusion

As one can see through examination of John Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration, the separation of church and state should exist in society. But Americans have taken that separation too far in the way that the liberal media over exaggerates the exemptions and breaks religious affiliated groups receive from the government and their refusal to acknowledge the priceless contribution religious volunteers make to society in the form of social services, not an attempt to convert citizens to a certain religion. Through examination of Diana Henriques' four part series on religion and the government in the New York Times and careful consideration of John J. DiIulio, Jr.'s rebuttal, one can see that both sides think they're right and their opponent is wrong. Both have the evidence to support their claims. It is up to the American people to call for a real change in our policies concerning religious affiliated groups that provide social services. If we are to truly achieve the balance between church and state that Locke lays the foundation for, we have to take a step back from the wall of separation and realize religious organizations can actually provide a great service to people that the government doesn't have the means to help.

Similarly, this balance calls for a political choice that goes beyond the traditional liberal and conservative camps that have monopolized American government for far too long. Morals need to be reincorporated into political life, but not in the same way that the Religious Right has tried to do it. Americans need to feel comfortable with their spirituality, religion, or more traditional values in tandem with beliefs that politics needs to be more progressive, more radical, headed towards real change for the better. This idea of a "fourth choice for American politics" (Wallis 17) can take Locke's Letter to the next, more modern-day applicable, level.

Locke laid the foundation for separation and a balance in his work, but was unable to address all issues that have arisen today. Ambiguities and contradictions weave in and out of his work and our society in the same way, a way that calls for us to go beyond just the words that Locke wrote. In order to do this, we must take his ideas of separation, toleration, and balance to a new level that is truly evident in our government's policies and the political choices we have. Only then can we truly say that we live in a civil society.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Dohl.
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