Interpretation of separation of church and state.?

Question

I, like Justice Scalia, think as follows. The organized church is not to control the organized government. That does not prohibit members of the civil government from introducing religious elements into government. That is done democratically by civil leaders. For example they can choose to include in school curriculums creationism and comparative moral standards. This is teaching ABOUT these things, not teaching that they must be believed. These are part of the real world, and that's what education is for. Similarly prayer in school or courts, etc.

Answer 1

For the most part, I agree with you. I think that separation of church and state doesn't necessarily mean that the two are completely estranged from each other, only that the government cannot force religion upon the citizens. That's why the pilgrims fled England; to get freedom from the English church, to be able to worship in their own way.

Answer 2

"Religion is the opiate of the people." Karl Marx. Yes, it turns out that he did get something right. Why are Christians so hell bent on shoving their religion down other people's throats? You want to teach that creationism is a valid theory? Fine, but only if you also teach that Superman really does live in Gotham City and he will solve all your problems if you just ask him to. Both concepts are equally valid so both deserve to be taught. You want the government to foster a religion? Fine, let our fearless leaders espouse the concepts of Zoroastrianism. We'll all live by those rules, okay? Why not? It's as valid a religion as any other one you want to come up with. This is America and we're proud of our right of free speech. So go talk all you want to about your God, but not in government run buildings, like schools, libraries, the hallowed halls of Congress. Those buildings are for ALL Americans, not just the fanatical religious right.

Answer 3

Yup...keep it seperate. I'm not really sure what your question is. It seems like you are just informing. Or maybe want other opinions.

I'm not against religion. But many people do not believe the traditional Christian belief or believe in God at all. It doesn't matter if they are not trying to make you believe in theirs. And in my opinion...they are trying to force you to believe in a round about way by constantly throwing it in your face. It's the fact that a majority of the time...it will be Christian based. Why should a non-Christian kid in a public school have to listen to a prayer that he/she does not believe? Or constantly have to look at a picture in a hallway of a God he does not believe in. Just keep it out. Church needs to stay at church and within an individual home. There are too many different religions and those who don't believe at all to keep it equal. I know alot of things in court are more based on tradition and history of the country. But then again...why should someone who doesn't believe or believes in another God be forced to raise their right hand and swear. Or place their hand on the Holy Bible and swear to it. Do they still do that? I don't know. There's just to much to argue on that one and nobody will ever agree so just keep it out.

EDIT: I never meant it as a child should not be able to pray in school. I meant it as the school itself should not have prayer groups that would exclude others that are of different religion. Or to be the instigators of prayer in school.

And someone had said that since they took prayer out of school kids have become druggies and sexually active. Wow! Where have you been. It has always been going on. They were just not so open about it. The parents are the cause of that. Not lack of prayer or religion in school.

Answer 4

He is right is simply means the government can not set up a state church like the church of England, the government has to be free of any church name or domination, that is it, our founding fathers always prayed in session and in their correspondence with one another, but one or two atheists always get their way, when they took prayer out of school in 1960, our children became rebellious, druggies, obsessed with sex, and they are still the same, only they start younger these days.

Answer 5

We do need government, but a good one. Not like we have around the world, especially in USA or Romania, for example. We need smart and capable people, not like the ones we have. The Church should be something like a hobby. I personally think that churches ar just ways to get money form stupid people believing in angels, fairy tales and something like that. They pay money to believe in something that does not exist. So, shurches shouldn`t get money form the budget of the state, they should be independent. I cannot wait to see the churches commercials : Buy candels from Bush` church ! We forgive any sins for the right price ! Or something like that...

Answer 6

I totally agree. The Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or the free exercise there of".Not hard to understand at all.It says nothing at all about where we can practice or when.So where do they get the authority to tell our kids they can't pray to the god of they're choice at ANY time?As a matter of fact, by saying they can't pray in school,I think they're Civil Rights are being violated!

Answer 7

The problem with your argument is that the Constitution calls for things to be equal The moment you allow time in government for one religion the others will demand equal treatment and you will have no time for anything else. Its better to keep it in the church not in the government or schools

Answer 8

i agree with you more or less.

The constitution provides that government will not make laws regarding religion. and it is best that the government remain as secular as possible.

However, people who are in government might have religious views that guide their policy making, an Im fine with that, as long as the policies created are not infringing on anothers rights.

IE if im atheist, you cannot make me pledge to god, and i wont prevent you from doing so either.

Answer 9

i agree w/you. if one wants to see what happens without the separation of church and state, look at what bin laden and the radicals did to the govt.s they were running.