I know this can be considered a political question but I have seen many answers in this section quoting this "clause" and I would like to know if they know where it comes from?
2006-10-15 11:38:39 · 15 answers · asked by berg 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It doesn't. All it says is the non-establishment clause. Protecting it's citizens from something like the Anglican Church which they had just left. It didn't mean that religion had to be kept out of politics. It meant politics had to stay out of the church. They gave us freedom of religion not freedom from religion. People invoke the Constitution to gripe about things like the Mt. Soleadad cross, or the ten commandments in court houses, ignorant of the fact that it doesn't support what they are claiming. People need to stop lying about the const. saying "separation of church and state"
What is in the constitution is an admittance that the reason we have rights is because they were given to us by our "creator"
2006-10-15 11:44:25 · answer #1 · answered by westfallwatergardens 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I don't know the precise paragraph but there is a statement in the constitution that states the government shall not establish a church. This was meant to prevent the US from creating a state-sponsored church, which is what the Anglican church of England was before independence. As the only sanctioned religion, other denominations or religions were not allowed. However, the supreme court, in the 1950s I believe, interpreted that statement to mean church and state had to be separate - and the arguing has been going on ever since
2006-10-15 18:49:01 · answer #2 · answered by loveourcountry 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually, from what I understand "seperation of church and state" was a phrase used by Thomas Jefferson, though its not in the constituion.
What IS in the constitution is the first amendment:
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.
So when you take the amendment, plus the words of the founding fathers who wrote it...its pretty clear they wanted the government and religion apart.
2006-10-15 18:43:28 · answer #3 · answered by DougDoug_ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First Amendment:
"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."
This has been legally interpretted to say that any endorsement of religion by the government violates this amendment.
("Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must therefore answer a difficult question: why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?" Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner on the Ten Commandments ruling, June 27, 2005)
2006-10-15 18:40:07 · answer #4 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
From the Bill of Rights.
You have the freedom to practice religion without State interference.
Hey, Mark Twain's got it:
The First Amendment.
'' 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.''
2006-10-15 18:43:11 · answer #5 · answered by Jay Z 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A clause of the first amendment of the Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
2006-10-15 18:42:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The First Amendment.
'' 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.''
2006-10-15 18:42:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's in the First Amendment.
The Wikipedia article will explain it pretty well.
Later: Westfall's statement that the Constitution says that our rights come from "a Creator" is simply false. The Constitution says no such thing. It does not mention "god" or "Jesus", and the only two mentions of "religion" are the limits set out in the First Amendment, and a place prohibiting the use of religious tests for public office.
2006-10-15 18:42:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It comes from the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
2006-10-15 18:41:12 · answer #9 · answered by Bobby 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First amendment establishment clause. Something like "congress shall pass no law respecting the establishment of religion", meaning that it won't favor any religion over another or prevent them from starting. That's where we get the seperation - no religion is favored, and no one gets to hawk their particular religion in a public place unless EVERYONE can. So we aren't teaching christianity in the schools until we're also teaching hindi, islam, greek mythology, etc.
See also the treaty of tripoli "this is not IN ANY WAY a christian nation".
2006-10-15 18:42:23 · answer #10 · answered by eri 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋