Christians: Seperation Church From State?

Question

Why should your beliefs get involved with how our country is ran?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Answer 1

The amendment was made so that there would be no State Religion. The 'impenetrable wall' that Jefferson mentioned was to discourage churches from trying to influence politicians into declaring this or that religion as a State Religion.

Bear in mind the times that this nation was founded in. Many of the colonists had fled countries when they found themselves persecuted and penalized because their religion was different than the stat-mandated religion (or denomination of religion). People were having their property taken away because they were Catholic when they 'should have' been Protestant. And being jailed for being Quaker when they 'should have' been Lutheran.

So the founding fathers did not mean that there should be no intersection between church and state, but that the State should not enforce a religion on the people. (And church should not take the place of government). Nowadays the interpretation has been slightly bastardized to be interpreted as 'there shall be no mention of religion in anything having to do with government'

And why should your beliefs get involved in the way the country is run either? That is both the beauty and the ugly of a democracy (and republic). Every yahoo with an opinion gets to express that opinion as the way they think it would be best for the country to be run.

Personally, my beliefs do influence the way I think the country should be run (And hence how I vote and petition). My Christian, libertarian, somewhat hawkish, young adult, and slightly Green opinions all influence the way I think the government should be run. It would be silly and stupid to think that any of my beliefs from any of my worldviews don't get involved in how the country is run.

Now, should expression of religion be allowed in public (government) places? (ie: ten commandments outside courthouses). I think that individual people should be allowed to express whatever religious belief they want, even in a public setting. I don't think that taxpayer dollars should be used to set up expressions of religion (one exception, religious expression, including Wiccan symbols, on the headstones at Arlington)

Or is your argument that morality should not be legislated? WIth that I wholeheartedly agree. As much as I would not want to get an abortion, that is my personal moral choice. (Would I like to see the market for abortions disappear? I would love it if every baby were wanted and every mother capable of taking care of their child) But I don't petition for the end of it because I don't believe in enforcing my morality on others. The reason? Because I don't want your, or anybody else's, morality enforced on me (maybe you think I shouldn't wear a cross when I'm at court? I wouldn't want someone to force me to remove it). Like I said, I'm Libertarian.

Gosh this is a long response, but I hope it helps.

Answer 2

Christians are against the separation of because of the "threat" of other religions and belief systems. When you give yourself fully to a theological position you put yourself in a position in which you can not negotiate. When something is "The word of God" you don't exactly get to change around the content of a law. This would be good for Christians who push an ideological agenda which has no support based on observable facts, but it couldn't pass unless the government was willing to pass laws based on biblical appeals. Christian Faith based political appeals: 1)The Marriage Vow (Being Gay is a Sinful Choice. That Marriage is Between one man one woman) 2)Don't Ask Don't Tell (Being Gay is reason for discharge from the military 3)Illegalize Sharia Law (Christian fear of Islam has passed a law prohibiting the free exercise of it.) 4)Illegalizing Stem Cell Research (Because a fertilized embryo that will never be born, still has rights?) 5) Intelligent Design (That religion, when phrased as pseudoscience, should be taught in the classroom) 6) Revisionist History (Lets also change our history books to make them more "Christian Friendly") But I think the most telling reason, is that only Christians would claim that America is "A Christian Nation". America is a secular nation, representing hundreds of faiths from hundreds of countries. Just because Christians are the majority it doesn't give them the right to try and legally discriminate against other religions. The Seperation of Church and State was put into the first sentence of the first amendment because when one religion legislates their beliefs as laws, all other religions become discriminated against.

Answer 3

The only separation in the First Amendment was that the state is not to interfere with free exercise of religion.

Instead the Congress is making laws to prohibit people from exercising their faith in public.

Answer 4

Umm, we already have separation of church and state, there is NO law establishing a national religion, nor does our government prohibit the free exercise thereof.

Perhaps you should be more specific.

Answer 5

I dont agree with seperation of church and state.
If there is a decline in moral standards its because the church isnt more involved in the political process.

Advocates of this new "moral maturity" are completely clueless,they talk about something theyve never experienced.
A christian country is a moral country.
A moral country will produce a moral man.
A moral man is a better man.

A moral man will run a country better and care for the needy better,
Better morals mean less crime and more security and comfort.

Answer 6

If you truly believe in that separation of church and state (which is not anywhere in the US Constitution, but was only mentioned in a private letter), then how do you explain the government issuing a wedding license before the church will let someone get married?

Don't you consider that a conflict with your belief?

Answer 7

I believe in Separation of Church and State, I do not however, believe in separation of God and State. Our nation was founded by theists, of all sorts. This nation has a deep history of fragmented religious tolerance, not complete secularism and non-religious government. Long live religion, in all of its glorious forms!

Answer 8

The last time I checked, your country was governed by duly elected representatives who in the name of the people govern your nation. If you don't like the actions of your government then vote them off!

Answer 9

The Government is not to tell the people to belong to one specific religion.


That has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with ones decisions simply because his or her morals and ethics were formed by being of any particular faith!

Answer 10

YOU KNOW WHAT MAN we have a religious part tied here BESIDES THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST you can have national morality apart from religious influence and it is true look about you and see where this country has become since we started removing JESUS FROM IT GET A CLUE!!!!!!