What exactly is seperation of church and state, is it different today than in 1776?

Answer 1

Many of those who came to this country originally had been victims of church-sponsored persecution. Separation of church and state was to try to prevent civil power from being used to enforce belief. It was then and still is a good idea. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

Answer 2

Seperation of church and state is exactly what it sounds like. It's the idea (codified into the 1st ammendment in different words) that the government and religion must be completely independent of eachother.

For that to happen, the government must neither promote nor inhibit religious activity in any way (except in cases where a particular religious practice is illegal and the reason for the law is just rather than contrived to limit the practice of some religion(s)).

Yes, it's different today. In 1776, they would never have dreamed of having government sponsored faith based programs. Also, in 1776, this applied only to the federal government, not the states. The 14th Amendment changed that.

Answer 3

Well, sep. of church and state is where you can't talk about religion or force your opinions on someone else because teachers, kids, etc. all play a big part in who you become in later years, so if they're christian and your a Jew, you might feel bad about yourself and it might conflict with what your parents are teaching you.
America has many different cultures, and also religions. That is why we can not make one person feel bad about their religion. (Although most do, im an atheist and believe in the separation of church and state)
Religion in school has changed dramatically since 1776. people have changed, and religions have been altered. (ALso, they were nuts back then, but so are we!!!)

I hope that answers your question!!!!!!

Answer 4

State = government. Religion & government are supposed to be seperate (though some people today take it too far). In other words, laws can't be made by, or strictly based on, teachings of a church. Likewise, the government can't force you to believe any particular religion. In 1776 it was different, it wasnt as strictly seperated, and nearly everyone believed in God & religion.

Answer 5

It is an idea gathered from some fouding fathers letters to explain why it is important that there must be a separation between these two concepts so that the church doesnt end up controling the state and leading to discrimination and harassment of people of different faiths. America was setteled by many who escaped this very thing. And its what you see in Iran today. A church run state that is controlling things not an elected offical

Answer 6

In those days there were Kings and Queens, today they are just figure heads. The Popes were subjected to Kings and Queens, that was the Church of old, Like the Medieval Era, the inquisitors.
Or the Crusaders from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Then repeated quests were to be followed by the modern church together with the help of Christians countries, till all continents were involved in great wars, in the name of religions.
Today politics is separated from religion, but not to the Islam.

Answer 7

the distance between church and state is called FREEDOM.

separation of church and state is a phrase coined by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists in the early 1800s to explain the intent of the first amendment.

since then, the Supreme Court (whose job it is to onterpret the US Contitution) has decided that the fourteenth amendment makes the establishment clause and other parts of the bill of rights binding to state and local govt.

there are many myths about this principle. please see my sources below for an overview.

likewise, the beliefs of our founding fathers here in the states is not well understood by many of our xian folk. they would have you believe that all of the FF were christians, which is not at all true. some were deists such as Thomas Jefferson and the father of the US Constitution, James Madison. this is another area worthy of research if you are interested in US history - what did the FFs really believe? do your own research and you'll be surprised.

Answer 8

Well what it meant in 1776 was to keep the government out of religious affairs. The government was to have no influence in how people would or wouldn't worship. Many people immigrated here to America for this very reason. To escape religious persecution. However today I think it has changed greatly. People are taking it much more literally and trying to take any remnant of God out of the government. We have seen controversy for example surrounding the Pledge of Allegiance. "........One Nation Under GOD, Indivisible..." Or even Christmas trees at public tree lighting ceremonies now being called "Holiday Trees" so to take out the "Christ" element. So I think we are wandering away from what separation of church and state was meant to be.

Answer 9

The difference is that today there are multiple religions that did not exist in 1789 when the constitution was ratified. They were only concerned that the Church of England or Catholicisms might dominate government. I believe that they assumed that the United States would always be Christian.

Answer 10

Very different, but only in the minds of people who haven't read the Constitution and wish to supress religion.

Religion can be practiced ANYWHERE. I could wear a cross to school, read the Bible on my break publically, pray with my coworkers publically ON MY OWN TIME.

However, as a government worker, I CANNOT do so during the time YOU pay me.

Even that is a very broad interpretation of our Constitution that is being EXTRA careful.

At the same time, if ANY government passes any law trying to do anything to a religion, whether to encourage, or supress it, it is breaking the intent of the Constitution as written by our founders.

Keyword: "Constitutional Law"+religion in your browser to find more.