Where in the Constitution does it tells us to keep church and state separate?

Question

I am trying to do an essay on this topic, and I can't find this in there. Can anyone help me point to where it is?

Answer 1

The United States Constitution serves as the law of the land for America and indicates the intent of our Founding Fathers. The Constitution forms a secular document, and nowhere does it appeal to God, Christianity, Jesus, or any supreme being. The U.S. government derives from people (not God), as it clearly states in the preamble: “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union….” The omission of God in the Constitution did not come out of forgetfulness, but rather out of the Founding Fathers purposeful intentions to keep government separate from religion. Although the Constitution does not include the phrase “Separation of Church & State,” neither does it say “Freedom of religion.” However, the Constitution implies both in the 1st Amendment. As to our freedoms, the 1st Amendment provides exclusionary wording: 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. Thomas Jefferson made an interpretation of the 1st Amendment to his January 1st, 1802 letter to the Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association calling it a “wall of separation between church and State.” Madison had also written that “Strongly guarded. . . is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the United States.” There existed little controversy about this interpretation from our Founding Fathers. If religionists better understood the concept of separation of Church & State, they would realize that the wall of separation actually protects their religion. Our secular government allows the free expression of religion and non religion. Today, religions flourish in America; we have more churches than Seven-Elevens. Although many secular and atheist groups fight for the wall of separation, this does not mean that they wish to lawfully eliminate religion from society. On the contrary, you will find no secular or atheist group attempting to ban Christianity, or any other religion from American society. Keeping religion separate allows atheists and religionists alike, to practice their belief systems, regardless how ridiculous they may seem, without government intervention.

Answer 2

check these sites out for info:

Essentailly, it exists (not in those exact words) in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Both sites show you the connection between that First Amendment, that phrase, its importance, and why the Framers used those words to get the concept of Separation of Church and State in the US Constitution using those words. Thomas Jefferson, one of the primary Founding Fathers, explains it well.

Enjoy Education!!!

Answer 3

That phrase never appears in the Constitution. It's the general meaning that's taken from the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Answer 4

It does not say it, word for word. But, this is in the Bill of Right of the Constitution:

The Bill of Rights

The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of worship, of speech, of the press, of assembly, and of petition to the government for redress of grievances. This amendment has been the center of controversy in recent years in the areas of free speech and religion. The Supreme Court has held that freedom of speech does not include the right to refuse to testify before a Congressional investigating committee and that most organized prayer in the public schools violates the First Amendment.

If you read any of the writings of George Washington, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, James Madison, etc., you will find they had no plans for religion to be part of our government. They were not Christians, but Deists.

Answer 5

It is not in the Constitution, but is established by opinion of the U.S. sureme court.

"In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation' between church and state." Hugo Black, Everson v. Board of Education (1947)

Hope that helps.

Answer 6

It doesn't.

It says that congress shall MAKE NO LAW regarding the establisment of religion.

Answer 7

That does not exsist in the constitution. That is a false idea.

Answer 8

It doesn't. It's freedom of religion. And that freedom is well expressed here at Yahoo Answers.

Answer 9

Its not there, the liberal supreme court judges misinterpreted what the constitution.

Answer 10

I haven't met anyone that can show me where it is either but, go ask the ACLU, they are the only ones that seem to know where it is.