If Europeans are so progressive, why don't they have separation of church and state?

Question

As an American, this has always confused me.
I admire European society and politics in general because they are much more liberal and progressive than American society and politics.

However, on the issue of separation of church and state, Europe is really backwards. They still have official state religions. They even teach religion in public school!

If Europeans are so progressive, why do they do this?

What makes this even stranger is that Europeans are much less religious than Americans. Far fewer Europeans go to church than Americans. Yet we Americans are the ones who were progressive enough to separate church and state (and have been so since the founding of our country in 1776!)

(yes, I know there are some inconsistencies, such as "in God we trust" being printed on our money, and pledging on the Bible in court, but overall we have more separation of church and state than Europe, and ours is in our constitution)

Answer 1

Many of the immigrants who came to what is now the United States in the 1600s and 1700s were fleeing the European countries because they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. Even so, some of them wanted to establish THEIR religion as the official state church.

Roger Williams founded Rhode Island to establish freedom of religion and the idea grew and was incorporated in the Bill of Rights as the first amendment.

The phrase "separation of church and state" is derived from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a group identifying themselves as the Danbury Baptists. In that letter, quoting the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, he writes: "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church and State."[

Separation of church and state is a notion related to, but separate from, freedom of religion. There are many countries with an official religion, such as the United Kingdom or Norway, where freedom of religion is guaranteed.

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Answer 2

Because the European states divides 500 years ago along the lines of Catholics vs. Protestants, and they retain this custom so they have something more to fight about in the lead up to the World Cup.

West C. Attle, while you're correct there is no law separating church and state, the establishment clause of the first amendment has recently been interpreted to effectively separate church and state. While this was originally meant to keep the government out of the church, it's since been applied the other way around (Thank God).

Answer 3

One important point is that America got to start from scratch and choose such things. Europe isn't perfect, if having a separation between church & state is truly advantagus then I'm sure one country will adopt it sooner or later. Frankly I think American society is better than Europes- they still have some kinks to work out.

Answer 4

Believe me there is nothing I hate more than people in office doing something because god said so. However, in the USA people seem to think that separation of church and state is a law. There is no such law. Show me the law.

Answer 5

A valid point about the separation of church and state and the constitution. I think the reason is tradition. France was and always will be catholic. For countries like Italy separation from church and state is difficult when the vatican is located in your capital.

Answer 6

Since we're generalizing here, and as you say Europeans seem to be "less religious" than Americans, perhaps this is the very reason they do not need to seperate church and state.

Answer 7

Just to clarify you, in TX, yes teachers discuss christian influences, for 2 sentences in a text book with the words "Nature's God". Come on! We spend more time talking about muslim influence of terrorists in 5 mins then the state of texas talks about christianity.

Answer 8

Our country was founded by immigrants seeking religious freedom...that being said, are you surprised one of the main themes of American politics is freedom of religion?

Answer 9

Seperation of Church and State was in the First Amendment...
Doesn't say it exactly that way but thats what it means...

Answer 10

Our Christians are more rabid, and they don't understand that God and evolution can coexist (for example). In Europe, there is not this problem of *either* science *or* religion (but not both). I don't know why we have so much ignorance in America. It's frustrating!