Anyone: How come religion does NOT believe in........?

Question

....the seperation of church and state?
Where as they believe that the "church" CAN go into politics, YET, they believe that government CANNOT interfere with religions.

Why is this?

Answer 1

Please be specific: fundamental religions, most notably Christian and Muslim, do not believe in the seperation of church and state.

Wiccans do. So do the more liberal branches of other religions.

As for why, it is simply a case of wanting the cake and eating it, too. They want to be able to control government without having to answer to it. I guess you could say, it's a power play backed up by a belief that they are doing god's will. Frightening, eh?

Answer 2

Not sure, but not all religions think that way. There are many Hindu texts that specify the distinction between the government and the religious functions within society. One such issue was marriage. Hinduism has atleast six different types of marriage, and one of the forms that is recognizes is what is typically refered to as "civil" marriage or "government" marriage. The two most common forms of marriage are those for children and those for companionship.

And Hinduism is not alone in making such distinctions. Many Pagan religions did the same in ancient times and today many Pagan religions still do. Many of the eastern religions also make that distinction as do many religions of "Native" peoples. In fact I can only think of four specific religions were followers of the religion have had, still have, or advocate influencing government: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Baha'i. And the Baha'i usually aren't specially advocating influencing the government as much as they are about advocating peace and equality for people in the global community, but there have been a few articles from Baha'is that I have read that sounded almost like those in the other three that advocate being involved in government.

Of course if history is to teach us anything it is that the seperation of church and state is probably the best thing for religions to flourish, grow, and survive. And it should be pointed out that not all denominations, sects, subsects, groups, etc of Judaims, Christianity, and Islam advocate being involved in the government. There are a lot who strongly favor the seperation of church and state (religiously liberty).

Answer 3

Separation of Church and State means the government cannot invent a federal denomination like they did in England. America broke off from England that had a state church in the 1700's.

Separation of Church and State gives the right of citizens to get legislators to enact fair and just laws. Most religions, especially the majority, which is Christian, provide a framework of fairness, justice, and morality for the common good.

Separation of Church and State DOES NOT MEAN citizens have no right to bear influence on legislation.

Despite Jefferson’s nuanced thought on the relationship between church and state, jurists have seized on one phrase in his letter, presenting a caricature of Jefferson’s views to promote their secularization of the U.S. government...Jefferson might have found objectionable.

The metaphor is not truly analogous to the Constitutional arrangement of church and state. The wall of separation presupposes that government and religion are wholly distinct and can be divided as though by a physical structure. A strict wall would eliminate practices that even supporters of strict separation now take for granted: for instance, military chaplains and tax exemptions for religious organizations. And it would be outrageous to ask legislators to leave their religion at home—not to mention harmful; the Bible is not Mein Kampf, although the ACLU and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State might sooner allow the latter than the former to be read in Congress. The wall also tends to undermine the proper idea of freedom of religion, which should be like freedom of the press: the free press is protected from government interference. Banning the press from the public square would be viewed as an outrage; not so with religion.

see more at http://www.catholicleague.org/research/dreisbach.htm

Answer 4

I am not sure if you understand the concept of separation of Church and State. Under this law the state has no official church. No tax monies are paid to the church. Other than that the church is like any other private corporation and deals with society in the same ways. It has nothing to do with politics..

Answer 5

I am a Christian Pastor and I DO NOT agree with Churches becoming involved in politics.
You can not legislate morality and that is what some Churches are trying to do.
Choosing to serve GOD loses all meaning when it becomes something that is mandated. It's a free will choice, not one made under the auspices of Law.
After all if LAW actually worked there would have been no need for Christ to die.

Answer 6

That depends on the religion, or sect of religion. Most of the religious people I know believes in the separation of church and state.

Answer 7

Too many religions my friend. If the government stepped in for one they would have to do it for all of them otherwise the people in the religion would feel singled out and that would cause SERIOUS problems. The government sees this and therefore decided it was best to just leave them alone for the most part.

Answer 8

I believe in separation of church and state so it looks like I'm a believer after all,
Pleased you brought it up here in such a forthright way, It'll be interesting to read the replies!

Answer 9

but... the government does interfere with religion. You are not aloud to pray at ball games, meetings, school, graduations, or anything else that there may be people at that don't believe. we teach evolution and its crazy monkey theory at school and not the fact that God created the world. They are even trying to take "in God we trust" off the money and anything to do with God out of the pledge- should I go on?

Answer 10

No, atheists don't believe in it. It's not okay to use the bible as a historical text or a supporting text for reports and studying, but it is okay to preach Evolution, a 4.5 Billion year old Earth, etc.

The US is supposed to be unaffected by religious influence. The Constitution and the Ammendments are suppose to be the one and only supreme doctrine of this country.