Separation of Church and State.?

Question

What does this really mean, When the church tries to voice an opinon the people scream seperation of church and state. Yet when the state comes in and tries to silence the church about what we can preach or teach the people appaud and shout from the rooftops. If there is to be a seperation of church and state shouldnt it go both ways or only one way.

Answer 1

I think what gets me is the fact that people who want nothing to do with "Church" are the first ones to stick their noses into the Church and try to dictate to us as to what we can or cannot preach. If you don't want to hear it then stay out of the churches or walk away from wherever else the truth is being told, but I guarantee you will one day eventually have to hear it all!!
Jesus Is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!!

Answer 2

GOOD QUESTION..however I must say that our constitution DOES not say anything about "separation of church and state" Can anyone show me where it says that? I doubt it very much ...the fact is the constitution says Congress SHALL PASS NO LAW ESTABLISHING A RELIGION...in short ..no forced religion...the same amendment also gives me the FREEDOM OF SPEECH...however when I talk about God people tell me I have no right to do that ...however they can still sing songs and talk about any type of vile act they want and no one bats an eye. It is incredible that our constitution is being striped away and no one seems to notice or care....To answer all those who says the church is not silenced does not know anything about church..because the church is not free to talk openly about government affairs or to tell the congregation of what Government officials voted on certain amendments or laws so yes there are restrictions, not only that but now they are trying to say it is wrong for Churches to have a TV set up to have Super Bowl Parties...what is next?

Answer 3

It means that your's or any church doesn't involve itself in politics and the government won't regulate religion. The fact that you can open your mouth and say whatever you feel without the government coming in and closing your church is proof of that.

I've heard that Christians think they are being discriminated against, but the Pagan community just won the right to display the Pentacle on veteran's grave stones and memorials after a 9 year battle with the VA. It seems that someone used their free speech to tell the government that our religion is based in devil worship and evil when we don't believe or condone any part of the Christian religion. We are not Christians pretending to be Pagans and if we backed the wrong religion then that is our right. Free will don't you know. 9 years and a lawsuit that never went to trial because to do so would tell the world about the legal discrimination against our religion based on the teachings of the Christian religion. I really feel sorry for being so mean to you and your religion!

Answer 4

The government does not try to silence the church. The church can teach whatever it wants to it's willing participants.

Forcing Creationism on kids in school is a whole other matter. This is just an example. Public schools have no place teaching the christian beliefs to children who very well might not even be christian.

If they go to a christian school, have at it.

If they go to a public school that could be attended by muslims, shintoists, buddhists, or any other religion, should those children have the right to not have to listen to what christians want them to hear?

Is it not the responsiblity of the state to protect the religious rights of others by stopping the christians from forcing their own beliefs on others who believe just as strongly in religions besides christianity.

Christians think they are right. They can't conceive how others might not agree with them. And they feel it is their ordained duty to convert the "heathens" to their views.

Or just kill them like they used to during the early days of christianity.

Answer 5

separation of Church and state IS necessary. The Church you re making reference to is the worst thing that could happened to the world. If what you call Church voices what people think it is only because it is convenient for them since if they voiced the opposite, maybe backing the government, no-one would remain blindly loyal to a tyranny like it. State is secular and so it should remain otherwise crazy fundamentalists may take over power and the "god saves us all from him/her" we shall scream. Only in a few places could religion subsist along with State and it was mostly in Eastern countries where their religions was not forged blessing weapons and killing people in the name of God or a team of gods, but mainly based on integration, understanding, collaboration and brotherly love. Many religions have done damage enough to the world as it is.
Hope to have answered your question

Answer 6

Sadly, since so may "Christians" won't do anything about such incursions on our freedom but cower under their beds for fear of the dreaded ACLU, we might as well get used to this.
And the prognosis is not very good.
Oh, I hear a few Christian voices raised. Yours. Mine. And a few others. But most Christians, when the ACLU flexes its muscle at us, they cringe...and shut the hell up.
That is why we are not supposed to gather anywhere near an abortion clinic, where innocent babies are being slaughtered. We are supposed to keep our distance, and ignore the cries of the innocent. And that is why our preachers are terrified to preach against homosexuality. They are supposed to keep silent, and pretend they don't see, while the gay couple in the fifth row hold hands and snuggle.
I wonder, would it be OK for him to tell us that cigarette smoking is bad for our health? Or is that a "hate crime" too?
OH, well, I intend to worship God, when and how I see fit, and I also intend to speak out against sin, wherever it raises it's ugly head.

And I will pray that I don't wind up in prison.

But, unless a whole lot of silent Christians come on out here with me, I don't expect it will do much good. Our grandkids...heck, at the rate it's going, maybe our children...will wind up worshipping God in whispers, in hidden rooms or damp basements.
When they dare to worship Him at all....

Answer 7

e get the phrase "separation of Church and State" from a particular passage in the Constitution of the United States that says the government shall make no laws governing the practice of religion. It says it better than I did. Go read an online copy of the Constitution of the United States and see for yourself. It's not a huge document, honest. You can manage it. See for yourself and don't accept hearsay from anyone -- hahaha, including me! Go look it up for yourself, please. You'll be glad you did.

Some things are great to ask here on Answers, but other things -- especially ones that have a combination of fact and opinion -- are best researched on ones own. Go look it up. You'll be glad you did.

Answer 8

It means that the state shouldn't endorse a particular church (or other religion), for example by having religious doctrine taught in public schools.

If the state was trying to silence a church it would probably be because the church was deliberately trying to make trouble, such as barricading abortion clinics or reading the part of the Bible about homosex being an abomination when gays were about.

Answer 9

Thomas Jefferson. Remember him from American history class? Well when he was president of the USA, he went to all of the PUBLIC DC schools and handed out Bibles. He understood what 'separation of church and state' means. Do you? Its in the Constitution! Read it for your self and maybe you will understand the concept.

Answer 10

It means that the government can not make laws against the church. But they try to anyways. But anyone who has truly read the US Constitution knows the words separation of church and state is not in there