Can someone tell me where in the constitution I can find the phrase "seperation of church and state"?

Answer 1

Oh, come on now. It's very clear. It's right under the part about everyone has a right to an abortion and that affirmative action is required by all institutions.

Answer 2

It isn't in the constitution or any other government document. Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase in a letter to a religious leader who was concerned about possible government influence over his church. The phrase was actually meant to show that there is a wall that keeps governemnt out of church affairs.

The establishment clause only states that the government will not establish a federal church and guarantees free excercise of religion. The clause has no other meaning and has been skewed to the point where government is now infringing on the free practice of religion by it's citizens. We now guarantee freedom from religion as opposed to freedom of religion.

Answer 3

You can't. Its a mis-interpretation popularized by everyone it seems.
The first amendment actually says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ......"

Notice that the restriction is on any government. Government shall do nothing to encourage any particular religion, financially, etc. Its why city or public schools cannot display religious symbols, etc.
For some reason the IRS has interpreted this to mean that if a religious leader recommends any candidate for office he/she becomes a political entity and loses tax-exempt status. I would love to see this challenged in court.

This amendment was inspired by the fact that - throughout history - emperors, kings, etc. decreed what religion their subjects would hold. Christians were fed to the lions for hundreds of years until the Emperor Constantine converted in the 3rd Century. England seesawed back and forth between Roman Catholic and Henry the 8th's Protestant Church of England for years. Catholic France persecuted Protestant Huguenots viciously for years. And the list goes on.

Answer 4

You can't. The phrase was actually found in a letter Thomas Jefferson (remember him - the guy who played a major part in deciding what the mission of the U.S. was to be?) wrote in the early 1800s. But he spelled the word "separation" correctly. Anyway, he cited the First Amendment and said that the Amendment creates a "wall of separation" between church and state.

Because most of the founders separated from England for religious reasons and because they didn't believe that the government has the right to dictate religion... and vice versa... the Constitution was drafted to include the principle that the two should remain separate.

Answer 5

As all the other's have pointed out, this is not in the Constitution. The 1st Amendment states that "Congress shall not endorse an establishment of religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof". Since most states receive funds and much authority from the federal government, they cannot violate this rule.

While even I have a problem with the degree to which this rule has interfered with what I consider to be minor issues, like school prayer, I cannot deny the importance of this rule. I think we would have nicer citizens if we still had school prayer, and we could design prayers that would not offend 99% of people.

But a more provocative way of looking at this law is the following:
This law prevents the [INSERT HATED RELIGION HERE] from forcing your child to pray to their God.

Personally, I don't think that the founding fathers really intended it to be used as it has been. I think they understood that the Judeo-Christian faith was synonymous with America, and it EASY to find a prayer that both Jews and Christians will agree with. They were trying to prevent a theocracy, or a religious group being able to impose major aspects of their religion on the followers of other faiths. I certainly don't think that they intended our institutions to be being completely gutted of all religious ties. If they had they would have personally imposed these rules at the time.

Answer 6

Look all you want because it is not in there in those words. There is a provision that does state that there shall not be a state religion. Also several Supreme Court decisions have been rendered keeping church and state seperate.

When we combine church and state we have Iran, Northern Ireland and Spain during the Inquisition. I am sure you don't want any of that. (just a reminder)

Answer 7

Is not in your Constitution, though the concept does come from your First Amendment.

In a letter to Baptists, Thomas Jefferson used the phrase
to assure them their rights would be protected and that the government would not interfere with those rights.

Answer 8

That phrase is Jefferson's. He wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Liberty. That, by the way, was one of three achievements he wanted listed on his tombstone. He, in fact, said it was necessary to build A WALL of separation between church and state.



So, Separation of Church and State was the goal of our founders. The Constitution provides the means to this goal, several bricks of this wall of separation. These Constitutional bricks are: One, the stipulation that there shall be no religious test for holding office , Two, the amendment prohibiting the establishment of a religion and prohibiting any restrictions on free exercise of religion and Three, the omission of God's name from the constitution.

There are many so used to having their religion infuse their civic lives that they cannot see their actions are establishment of religion.

Perhaps some long for the good old days, when you had to pay taxes to the state church, had to attend services, and could be denied and standing in community unless you joined the preferred church. I myself am grateful for Jefferson's wall.

Answer 9

It's not there. The phrase comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association some thirteen years after the Constitution. He wrote the letter to assure them that they government would not institute a state religion. Our founding fathers fully intended for a separation of church and state but NOT a separation of God and Country.

Answer 10

It's not there. It comes from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Baptist ministers of Danbury, CT, which for some reason certain people choose to treat as if it Divinely Revealed Truth.

Answer 11

I'm sort of wishing it were in the Constitution.

Not that it would prevent the Church of our Lady of the Global Warming Apocalypse from attempting to force their dogma on the rest of us.