"The Framers of Our Constitution Meant We Were To Have Freedom of Religion, Not Freedom From Religion" - Billy Graham

The major conflict in Sophocles’ play Antigonê is between the law of the Gods and the law of the government. In history, separation of the church and the state was used in order to prevent conflicts, but it is when the fine line between religion and the government is crossed that disagreements arise. When Antigonê chooses to follow her own beliefs, she is not only being true to herself and to her family, but she is obeying the wishes of the Gods as well. In most situations Antigonê’s actions would be seen as praiseworthy, but instead of being commended for her moral standards, Creon sends Antigonê to her death. So is it ever alright for religion to take precedent over the law of the government? And either way, was Creon wrong in punishing Atigonê the way that he did?

Religion is a touchy subject when it pertains to the law because there are often multiple religions being practiced under one government. People of every religion have different moral standards, rituals, and interpretations of right versus wrong, making it impossible to incorporate all religions into the law. There may be Islamic extremists that believe in the use of suicide bombings as a way to get a point across, whereas under Western law these actions are illegal. So is the excuse that under the beliefs of Islamic extremism suicide bombings are accepted a valid reason for a terrorist not to be persecuted in the West? No, because the event would cause the destruction of property as well as the possible death of innocent civilians. This is a situation in which the law rightly overrides religion, because there is a possibility of negative consequences and harm to civilians.

On the other hand, there are many situations in which religion and the law should stay completely separate. For example, under the beliefs of the Jewish religion, persons with tattoos or piercings are not to be buried in Jewish cemeteries. Although under some religions the idea of refusing a burial to the deceased is appalling, it is the right of the Jewish religion to make their own rules and regulations regarding their cemeteries. Although religion should not override the law, governments should refrain from making laws that single out any one religion and have nothing to do with the safety of its civilians.

In the case of Antigonê and Creon, it is hard to say whether either person was completely in the right or the wrong. I believe that Creon was wrong to refuse the burial of Polyneicês in the first place, traitor or not. Not only was Polyneicês once royalty, but it is the wish of the Gods that all civilians have a proper burial. The law that Creon made also singled out an individual situation, without thinking of the consequences or the extenuating circumstances, which I believe that no law should do. At the same time, as a citizen of Thebes, it is Antigonê’s duty to obey the laws and to respect the wishes of Creon as King. Although I do not believe that Antigonê deserved the harsh punishment that she received, I believe that Creon had the right to make an example out of her for not abiding by the law. So in conclusion, it is important that the division between the laws of the government and the laws of the Gods stay clearly defined, in order to prevent misunderstandings or situations in which a person has to choose between betraying their country and betraying oneself.