Separation of Church and State?

Question

Do you still support the separation of church and state? Why? What do you think about the conservative Christian movement? How has it been to the benefit or detriment of politics?

Answer 1

Yes I do. It is about equality. Government endorsement of one religion over another is discriminatory.

Those who preach that maiming and killing terrified men, women and children is "God's will" -- who cover up the slaughter of their own citizens and who topple other regimes by force or farce -- are evil men who worship evil gods.

Bush and Christian values is an oxymoron. And Bush and the millions of Americans who voted for him because he shares their moral values need to re-examine exactly what those "Christian values" are.

Matthew 5:7-9

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.

Armed and jackbooted, the "Christian Right's" Diety bears no resemblance to the compassionate and forgiving God in whom Christians, myself included, have put their faith for more than two millenia.

That said, I have no problem with reading the Bible in school, or Nativity displays on public property, as long as other religions are given equal time/space. Most on the far right would fight to keep this from happening, though. To them "all men are created equal" is trumped by "majority rule".

Answer 2

We MUST keep a separation of church and state. You only have to look to the Middle East to see what a combination of the two can do to countries. Look at the Israel and Palestine.
If you think about it, ask yourself: Who's Church? Protestant (which one) Fundamentalist (which one) Catholic, Orthodox,
Jewish (which tradition), Muslim: you see where I'm going with this. There are too many churches with too much power as it is in people's lives, we certainly don't need more confusion in the way government operates. It would be an absolute disaster to try to get all of these churches (and a myriad of others) to agree if they were taking their religious beliefs into account (not saying it doesn't effect their decision making in some ways but there is a separation and that's good). The conservative Christians can do whatever they like but just as with any religion they have had a detrimental impact on politics. If you think about the last election and what Bush 'promised' to do for them, he excluded a whole lot of other believers. Nothing ever good comes from mixing politics and religion unless hipocrisy is a good thing and we all know it's not.

Answer 3

I support the state don't influence on the church and that is what Jefferson was talking about if those who read that letter they pull out in context the church should be influence on the state.

There is long standing tradition of democrats speaking in churches and however when a republican does that democrats cry foul.

Last check of the constitution we ALL have the right to Free Speech so if Conservative Christians want to band together and speak out that is fine.

I don't think however the call separation of church and state means that kids can't read a Bible on school or even mention G-d in a speech in school.

I think the separation of church and state are a bit paranoid about another voice that dares to question them.

Open debate is for everyone not just liberals.

Answer 4

Separation of church and state was originally meant to keep the state out of the churches business. The left has twisted this and therefore is attempting to change a pillar of the Constitution.

The Conservative Christian movement is a wonderful thing yet it has elements at the far right end of it that are just as sinister as the far left.

Checks and balances are being utilized with the peoples votes. Yet if one side becomes too lackadaisical about getting out to the voting booths a dangerous swing to either direction can take root thus tearing at the fabric of our nation.

Answer 5

Yes I do support this. REMEMBER THE INQUISITION .I don't trust a political leadership alone to keep us from changing into a theocracy. Also religion causes more problems than is solves. Conservative, Dominionist evangelicals like Pat Robertson are dangerous, hypocritical and anti American. I can just imagine living in a police state as described in the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Attwood. In fact I wish the REAL Christian evangelicals would stay OUT of politics entirely.

Answer 6

Yes. Not everyone is under the same religion. The US was founded under the belief of religious freedom. That can not happen if Church is involved with the Government. And as an atheist. I do not need someone believing in the big invisible sky daddy to tell me what I can and can not do .

Answer 7

I think the separation of Church and state is highly desirable given the instability and irrationality of religious leaders and of religion itself.

Answer 8

What Separation of Church and State? The one that's not written in the Constitution? It doesn't exist.

Answer 9

I think I would have to be in between. Nobody should bet telling what to anybody. The Church must serve as the guide of the state. The state must be executive. They must be in unity, but neither must they be in complete dependency.

Answer 10

yes - and no - need to read Thomas Jefferson letter where he first mentioned it - the ACLU and Congress has really adulterated the idea

has been a benefit - even with the rotten apples - the barrel has maintained us - and we are secure today