Why is there seperation between church and state?

Question

They often seem to overlap.

Answer 1

To prevent the establishment of a state religion that would persecute those with different beliefs.

Answer 2

If you want a country where the church and state are not separated, move to Iran.

If the church (any) were allowed to control the government, you would not even have the right to Yahoo Answers.

True, any government may impose it's particular brand of "morality" and quite often does. However, "life, liberty & the persuit of happiness" is a minimum standard our founding fathers were looking for. Those are also the basic things any power-hungry group from gang bangers to the Pope want to deny those who will not bend to their will.

What the country USED to stand for was the right to self-determination, the free exchange of thought, the opportunity for ALL people to have the RIGHT to try to better themselves in their OWN way. But at the same time, to respect the right of others to do the same.

This is where the problem of responsibility comes in. Where is the line drawn between real freedom and the imposition of tyrany?

Try this> The parents of a sick child believe in faith healing. That is a decision the parents made, not the child. If their efforts endanger that child when a simple medicine may save it, who will speak for the child? "The will of god" is not a good excuse for a slow painful death.
(Many theists will whine about abortion being murder, but once born, will have no problem with treating children as property.
Read the Old Testament about how Lot offered his own children to the crowd. )

This is only one example. But the point is, freedom frightens those who claim to represent one diety or another.
Tyrants use "morality" and the "will of the Almighty" as their excuse to pull the same garbage onto the general populace (that's you and me) that any bully would.

Answer 3

Did you know that the phrase "seperation of church and state" isn't in our Constitution? It's quoted all the time, but it's not even in there. Most of our forefathers were Christians, and this country (United States) was founded on many Christian beliefs. The only thing they didn't want was a government run church, like they had in England. The Liberals in this country have changed what most of our forefather wanted. Why else do you think our country is having so many problems?

Answer 4

Many of the early colonists came from societies where one was treated or persecuted by the state according to the religion they practiced. England had many centuries of wars among its own kings and queens over Catholicism or Protestantism.
Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain were terrible in their persecution of Muslims and Jews.
When the pilgrims got here they did not want the new country to practice such persecution. So they established separation of church and state.
Though such separation is the law, in many American communities subtle discrimination against non-Christians is still practiced particularly in the election of public officials.

Answer 5

Originally it was meant only to separate any one sect of religion and the government, to stop the government from ever being controlled by any one sect as was the case in England. It was never meant to mean a separation from God and the government as so many people are trying to make it out to be today. This country was founded on religious freedom not atheist freedom.

Answer 6

Because would you really want the state to be run by a certian religion? Or would you want the gov to fund churches? No you wouldn't . Especially if the gov was funding or suggesting that you go to the one they choose to fund. And the church has no business in the school room. You are there to learn not be preached to about something no one knows for certian is real.

Answer 7

Certain people try to make them overlap, yes.

Look up the "spanish inquisition". That's an example of how it can get really bad when religion and government mix. Or the salem witch trials.

Answer 8

Maybe we don't want church to become too powerful, but most of our politicians make judgments based on belief. It really confusing when you look into something like this. And all the politicians as of lately have been making some poor decisions if you ask me

Answer 9

because if the religious ruled, without limits then all hell would break loose. think about it, only one religion could be in goverment at one time, so what happens to the other religious groups? they start killing and america becomes a total wastland.

Answer 10

Because we wouldn't want to corrupt our pure and righteous secular values with EVIL RELIGION!