Separation of church and state??

Question

There have been a few recent questions on this and I thought I would ask what people generally believe about it.

In reference to 'The separation of Church and State'..

What is your definition of it or what does it mean to you?
Do you believe it is in the USA Constitution?

All good answers so far. One note mark d.
Your example of innocent until proven guilty. No it isnt in the constitution but its in the Declaration of Human Rights law.
So there isnt any interpretation nescessary. Its cut and dry.

Actually in thinking about that some more it has been interpreted anyway.. to innocent but suspected until proven guilty ;)

Answer 1

The phrase "separation of church and state" is NOWHERE in the Constitution. What the constitution does call for is no governement-mandated/established religion. Remember, our founders came from England where the Anglican church was the "official" church. The intent was to make sure that people were not persecuted for practicing other faiths. The intent was NOT to prohibit people from allowing their religious beliefs to influence their decisions and the way they live their lives. This completely secular society ideal people are trying to create is so far from what our founders intended and what our constitution actually says. If you have any doubt of that, go and actually read the constitution! You'll find that "separation of church and state" just simply isn't in there.

I don't believe the two CAN be separated...no matter what religion people are, if they are being true to their beliefs they cannot leave them totally out of the equation when voting or creating policies. We can't leave the core of who we are out of our thought process. And if you ask me to separate my religious beliefs from the way I think our country should be run, now that's taking away religious freedom.

The supreme court justices and the democratic party should read the constitution once in a while. "Unconstitutional" doesn't mean against the constitution anymore, it seems to mean against the political leanings of the party in power at the moment. They will say anything they don't agree with is unconstitutional, and I doubt they even look at the constitution to make that determination. Somewhere all our forefathers are rolling over in their respective graves.

Answer 2

The words do not have to be in the Constitution in order for it to be a constitutional rule. For example, there is nothing in the Constitution that says that person accused of crime are presumed innocent nor that in criminal trials prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But it is quite valid to interpret the Constitution that those are constitutional guarantees.

There are a lot of people who say that "separation of church and state" is a phrase that does not appear in the Constitution at all so therefore the phrase is not a constituitonal rule. I don't completely agree with that. It is just that I interpret the expression much more narrowly than the radically irreligious left. I believe that the "separation" phrase means nothing more complicated than that the institution of government must be separate from the institutions of organized religion. It means that government cannot pass the buck of law-making and law-enforcing to any church(es). Laws must be made by the institution which is elected by all the people, no matter what their religion, rather than laws (which effect everyone) being made by an organized religion.

There is no reason the rule has to get any more complicated than that.

Also take a look at my question about this a few weeks ago.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApzC4myyTOWo0ITkgiLsO0fsy6IX?qid=20070112193209AAP3HEF
.

Answer 3

the Seperation of Church and state was in the Fedralist papers. written by Jefferson.
It was so this nation would not have a Church (Anglican) not a religion as a part of it. the seperation was so that the government couldn't influence the Church. (Remember in England the King is the head of the Church). So King George being head of the Church gave him not only political power but religous power as well. The Puritans wanted to get as far away from this as possible. Please go to your library and read all of Jeffersons writings.read the Declaration of Independence and realize they did not leave England mostly because of Taxation without representation.

Answer 4

As a American Catholic Christian, separation of church & state is the belief that no religion in public schools. And regardless of what people may think. I personally when I'm at work, I try not to discuss religion too much.

Answer 5

People have the right to practice whatever religion they want (or none at all). The government should not incorporate ideas that have a deep religious rooting and not a legal or humane one. This is difficult to say because most of our laws have history in religion, although humanity also calls for most of these laws (murder, rape, etc...) It is a very interesting topic to discuss, although it tends to get heated.

Answer 6

all the constitution says is that the congress shall make no law creating a religion.

thats it.


liberals want to add a lot to it because they hate the constitution and want to change it.


and thats a memo

Answer 7

The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER*** will communicate to this question, because his wisdumb is All understanding. you ought to be sensible to take heed to his words of wisdumb.talking to the modification to the structure with reference to faith, and authorities. It reads like this. the authorities shall no longer appreciate the institution of any faith, or block the institution of any faith. For you little ones of god that do not recognize what the note appreciate ability please seem it up.a lot of you could't examine ,or comprehend what you examine. I The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER***will clarify it to you. appreciate: to illustrate, or carry in intense regard for one component over yet another Now do you imagine you could parent out what which ability. even as it is composed of religions the authorities. ought to stay impartial. In different words stay out of the agency of marketing , or demoting any faith,be cut loose,no longer inspire one over the different. Do the easy xristian minds in this panel get it. The***PRAYNOGRAPHER***thinks the time period ought to assert "The separation of church and mind.i imagine it must be threat-free to assert that xristians, a minimum of various of those I have generic , do no longer have a operating mind.they must be led round like a puppy on a leash. churches do no longer pay their justifiable percentage in taxes,or do not pay any . Then they ought to stay out of a authorities they do no longer help. The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER***has spoken. Now bypass away and be born again in the previous I spank you!!!!

Answer 8

State is already seperated from religion.However religion has some influence on the government.
Religious activities should be restricted by every state.

Answer 9

It is not in the Constitution.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

(No state church.)

Answer 10

separation of church and state is pretty much governing our country without incorporating religion or one's religions morals not forcing ones religion onto another person. this country was founded not on god but on freedom. some of our founding fathers weren't god fanatics. thomas jefferson for example wasnt even christian.