What my Atheist friends does our constitution say EXACTLY about separation of church and state?

Answer 1

I'm not an American but don't forget article six, which contains:
"no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States"

Which is funny as the majority of Americans would never vote an atheist into the office.

Answer 2

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

Thomas Jefferson said these words build "a wall of separation between Church and State." This phrase has been adopted in numerous Supreme Court opinions. The Court also said that the legislature can "[n]either can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another."

This is pretty typical of the Supreme Court: reading a lot more into the Constitutional text than is actually there.

However, some have argued, including Justice Clarence Thomas, that this should not be incorporated to the states, leaving each state free to establish religion or not.

Answer 3

The concept of separation of church and state is an important interpretation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ." The phrase separation of church and state was popularized by Thomas Jefferson in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists. The phrase itself does not appear in any founding American document, but it has been quoted in opinions by the United States Supreme Court. (The first such mention was in Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 in 1878.)

Answer 4

Amendment 1 of the Bill of Rights:

"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."

Answer 5

The "separation clause" was meant to prevent the establishment of a state religion. One that the citizens would be forced to be a part of and support. At its core is the idea that people have freedom of conscience and that the government will respect the faith, and non-faith, of every citizen.

However, it has been bastardized over the years to mean that there cannot be any mention of religion whatsoever in public.

Answer 6

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.

It doesn't say separation of church and state it says congress is not allowed to make laws about religion. Can't abridge freedom of speech, congress can't tell you that you can't talk about god but it can't tell me I can't say the bible is a work of fiction either.

Answer 7

Contact the Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusettetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20001 and they will send you the Declaration of Independence & the Constitution.

Answer 8

Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

I recommend you taking a 'look-see' at this site: http://atheism.about.com/od/churchstatemyths/a/phrase.htm

Answer 9

Separation of church and state was what Jefferson and Madison said in their explanation of why they put the First Amendment in the Constitution.

Try reading Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance to learn more about our founding father's views.

Answer 10

That "congress shall make no law respecting the Establishment of religion nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof"...