Do you support the seperation of church and state?

Question

I do. I think people should have the religious and spiritual freedom.

It seems to me that most people are writing about the U.S. I'm not asking this to Americans only, it's for all countries.

Answer 1

Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects every individual. Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the "wall of separation between church and state,"
therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.

"I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the states the powers not delegated to the United States. Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in religious discipline has been delegated to the General Government. It must then rest with the states, as far as it can be in any human authority." --Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, 1808. ME 11:428

"In matters of religion, I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general government. I have therefore undertaken on no occasion to prescribe the religious exercises suited to it; but have left them as the Constitution found them, under the direction and discipline of State or Church authorities acknowledged by the several religious societies." --Thomas Jefferson: 2nd Inaugural Address, 1805. ME 3:378

"Our Constitution... has not left the religion of its citizens under the power of its public functionaries, were it possible that any of these should consider a conquest over the consciences of men either attainable or applicable to any desirable purpose." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to New London Methodists, 1809. ME 16:332

Answer 2

If you are talking about the First Ammendment, then I absolutely support it.

"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.",

If you mean that Christians should not be involved in the political process, or that the "state" should not have any "Christians" influencing it's decisions, then I absolutely do not support it.

I believe our country should be governed by the Constitution of the United States. Do some research of our founding father's. Find where this "Separation of Church and State" clause is located, then post another question around the actual writings of our founders. The fact is, you'll never find anything that tried to keep Christian principles out of governement. You'll only find where our founders actively sought out "divine guidance" in their pursuit of this great republic we call "The United States of America."

Answer 3

No, I do not support the separation of church and state - at least not to the degree that some people want to take it.

Until ten years or so ago, my answer to this question would've been a simple "yes." But that was before people started taking it to an absurd extreme. This country was founded by Christian people, and the VAST majority of its people are still Christian people. To try to deny it or erase its traces is insulting, unnecessary, and pandering to a select few. This country runs on majority rule - except where political correctness and the "church and state" issues are concerned. So when a tiny minority of people can get references to God removed from public buildings, that's just wrong. When a tiny minority's movement to get "In God We Trust" removed from coins can actually get attention, that's absurd. And when a tiny minority can have federal dollars withheld from a charity just because it is run by a church, that's not just wrong and absurd - it's hurtful.

So NO, I can't be for the separation of church and state when it is done so without majority rule and in the interest of political correctness.

Answer 4

See...this separation of church & state is blown way outa share. You prolly comprehend it comes from a Jefferson letter some Justice utilized in a ruling so now it truly is deemed extra clever that interior the form. even yet it truly is in user-friendly terms a sound byte. The got here upon Fathers very lots choose a ethical non secular people as individuals. in user-friendly terms some readings of Jefferson or Adams or Washington could instruct that, & supply Santorum some credit. he's declared out loud he can not impose some strict catholic ideals on the country no longer interior the least. Morals are left as much as the individiual & he needs to maintain the government.out of it. he's leaning in the direction of a strict constructionist view of government which for my section interior the main suitable.

Answer 5

I think that ideally there would be no division between religion and government, but that at this point, socially and spiritually, we're not in a position for it to work.

So, the answer is yes, I support the separation of church and state so long as it is more help than hindrance, but I believe in the future it will become more hindrance than help.

Answer 6

Okay The separation of church and state was put into our constitution for one reason and one reason only. That was so that this country (the USA) would not become a theocracy (a religion based government) However this country was founded under Christian ethics ( read your history books ) and should ethically follow a Christian doctrine although other religions should be allowed of course to practice without prejudice or hate toward them.

Answer 7

It is not bad but you can't tell someone in polotics they can't go to church.

As for as prayer in lets say court...that SHOULD be left to the individual. In the past there was nothing but the Lord in everythign people did. Today you just have your people who are swinging toward socialism they don't know what's happening in their lives.

If people want to pray before a court hearing or before the begin delegations let them do it. If they WANT to do it together let them do it. If one person in the group of 20 doesn't want it.... DON'T do it. Respect others.

In say Christianity you are said by the Lord to bring people to him.
President Bush has not tried this he has tried to stop things that are wrong moraly. Do you want your kid to kill some kid who is 4 months along? Born or not being alive doesn't mean you have to leave the womb.

People are so stupid they think that one persons belief should stay that way. But if they want to tell someone their opinion in a
different matter they push and push to have them hear them.

What the hell does the declaration say it speaks of religion. Do you suppose then that because our forfathers had religion we shoul to. Nope but if something is morally wrong then knock it the F off.

Gay marriage or you kidding me? Does it sound right that a man/man or woman/woman should be together? If evolution were true, we didn't evolve to screw the same sex. Why would any one species evolve to not create more of their race?

A rabbit isn't gonna be born and grow to repopulate its race if it
is gay. Rabbits are gonna cease to exist.

Ban Gay marriage I am all for that. Church is hope and hope is life. So in that aspect it should only be sepereated where one will be offended. If you arn't in the group adn sitting at home. They decide to pray you should NOT be upset. It is not for you to judge where many feel they want it.

Answer 8

absolutely. The last time we mixed church and state, people were burned at the stake for not sharing the same religion as the government.

Answer 9

Yes....separation of church and state gives people the right to choose their religion....otherwise people would almost be forced to be a certain religion. Atheists would be prosecuted for not believing in god, or christians would be prosecuted for believing in god....depending on which religion was picked for that state.

Answer 10

hmmm...since that concept was not in the constitution, nope.

I believe that everyone should be free to choose what to worship or not worship. However, if the majority of people in the school district would like to pray at school, they should be able to do that or any of a number of things.