Is there really a separation between church and state?

Question

If so, then why on the US's coins and dollars, written is "In God we trust"

Answer 1

The people who wrote the First Amendment never imagined they would be accused of being against God or against religious beliefs. Their only concern was that no religion be established as the official religion of the nation, and therefore have an advantage over other religions.

As to the line "In God we trust" on our coins and the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance, the term God is generic enough that it does not belong to any one religion, not even to Christianity, not even to a more general Judeo-Christian tradition. It means Higher Power, however you define it. Or as the twelve step programs say, "God, as we understand him," and many 12-steppers amend that to "him or her." Many others say "as we fail to understand him -- or her," which is still more honest.

Answer 2

The phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear anywhere in the Declaration of Independence, or in the Constitution. However, we do have certain freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution; specifically, in the First Amendment:

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or
of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.

Did you get that? Congress may not make ANY law respecting an establishment of religion, OR prohibiting the free excercise thereof.

(If those bits of paper and/or metal with "In God We Trust" on them offend you, no problem. Get in touch with me, and I'll give you a P.O. Box # where you may send them, and I promise, they will be well cared for. :)

Answer 3

I think that the problem of religion in U.S., is because the Government, it self, perhaps in issue that have been passing through generation and its now affecting everyone in a much different way. I say this because of my 32 years experience as a permanent and legal resident of this Country, I have had the chance to encounter many individuals, and peoples that they firmly believed they are God's. Well as of few day's ago, I think they have begun to become a bit more conscious that there is not just a manner of an attitude to be a God, but a matter of wisdom and knowledge and steal there are more than just few chances that the way to become a God, in U.S., isn't with-in the way the federal Government of U.S. operate?.

Answer 4

There can never be a complete separation of Church and State as long as some kind of morals are part of the law.

Answer 5

The separation of church and state is a guarantee that you can worship, or not, in the manner you chose. Its a guarantee against an official state religion., It was never intended to remove God .

Answer 6

The separation you speak of was the "State" not telling or forcing upon you and me what church or religion to embrace. Not that there is no belief in religion or church by the state. Because the "State" is the people.

Answer 7

This is the Nation under God, it also says you have a right to your own faith. There are so many nation out their that are not UNDER GOD, and you see they are not all a place most American would want to live in. God is how American did so good in all the Wars. You also see how America is going down hill since we are removing God from out Nation..

All I ask it to keep a open mind to what I said and look back the last 50 years as we took God out of American, and see how we Americans are going under...

Answer 8

The separation of church and state was formed so that a "divine theocracy" would not be able to rule the US like in Britain. The phrase does not refer to any specific god. Our founding fathers were all religious (though many were not Christian).

Answer 9

term is not even in our constitution

jefferson was not even in country when constitution was written

jefferson coined term as president but send missionaries to evangelize the indians and had church held on sunday using the marine band inside the congress buildings

term refers to not wanting one denomination to take over the country - the official religion was still christian as scene in 1892 us v holy trinity case which provided 87 cases in point

separation of church and state term was dormant until 1947 when court was politically charged and comprised - and used as a billy club to hammer christians only

atheism wsa declared a religion by us sup court in 1977 milnak case but no one minds if atheism is taught in school

Answer 10

Separation of church and state meant that the state should keep out of church, not that church should stay out of state. Religion is a HUGE part of our history. Even if you're not religious (like me), you can't deny a society from honoring that history.