The first amendment states that the government cannot restrict religions. There is nothing in the constitution that says anything about the seperation of church and state yet everybody is always claiming it as a constituional right. The truth is that Thomas Jefferson gave a speech saying it was the rights of all Americans to practice their religion of choice and that we had a right to a seperation from the government, not to protect the government but to protect our religious rights from the governments intervention. This country was founded by people who were looking for religious freedom from English and Euorpean influence. How did it ever get turned around? In this case I am thinking of my own, Christain, The government seems to be stepping in and society as a whole to restrict it. I understand that our country is full of all kinds of relions and those who have none but why restrict my rights because they are different from someone elses?
2007-07-18 08:07:17 · 13 answers · asked by Connie D 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You're close, but not quite there.
The First Amendment says two things about religion.
1) "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." - This is know as the Establishment clause.
2) "...or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" - This is known as the Free Exercise clause.
The second clause does what you're saying: prevents the government from restricting religious practice.
The first clause protects the second one by preventing the government from establishing its own official religion. The founders understood that it would be impossible to truly have religious freedom if the government officially supported any particular religious belief.
Separation of church and state is actually drawn from a letter that Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association of Conneticut. He explained that the purpose of the First Amendment was "building a wall of separation between church and state."
Could you give examples of how the government has restricted your right to practice?
2007-07-18 08:29:14 · answer #1 · answered by marbledog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Explain to be the difference between Congress shall make no law and separation of church and state? Sound damn close to me. You have the right to your religion on your own time. No one argues that. What people have issue with is putting your religion into someone else's time, ie school. You can be as religious as you want! Just not with my tax money.
If you look into the actual Supreme Court rulings, the only thing they are stating is that STATE funds can not support any one religion. For example, the state can't pay for books for a Catholic private school. The public school system can not use the school to promote one certain religion. Religions are welcome to gather in public building, such as schools, as long as they are treated as ANY other organization that wishes to use it. Like if you charge a group of jews to use the gym then you have to charge the Christians too. The government is not restricting your faith anywhere but in the governement and yes the first amendment covers that.
2007-07-18 08:11:09 · answer #2 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The establishment clause was reviewed by the Supreme Court and the judge quoted Jefferson... thats where it comes from, so it was a court ruling, which to this date is still in use. The founding fathers didnt want a state religion, like what they had in Europe before they travelled here.
As for restricting rights, what about my right to NOT want to participate in religion, etc..... I have equal rights under the law as you do....so its a circular argument that was already established by the supreme court a long time ago.,
2007-07-18 08:13:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I notice atheists targeting Christians as well. I don't like being sac-religious, but I wanted to share a verse I found interesting.
"Jesus confronted their slander. 'A judge who gives opposite verdicts on the same person cancels himself out; a family that's in a constant squabble disintegrates; if Satan banishes Satan, is there any Satan left? If you're slinging devil mud at me, calling me a devil kicking out devils, doesn't the same mud stick to your own exorcists?'" -Matthew 12:25-27
I just found that verse interesting, and, with the way things have happened, a source of faith. My guess is I sound like a complete jerk right now though... Well, I'm not against people in other religions, just, if the other religions are false, as Christians believe, then don't those religions (not necessarily the people in them, just the religions) come from the devil?
2007-07-18 08:22:53 · answer #4 · answered by Charlie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only way government restricts religion is to restrict religion's influence on government and to keep government from promoting religion, such as in the case of school sponsored prayer.
What you fail to see is that, as religion becomes more and more involved with government, government necessarily becomes more and more involved with religion. The first amendment seeks to avoid this. So, we keep religion out of government in order to keep government out of religion. Should religion become profoundly involved with government, it would not end in religion controlling government, but government controlling religion, which is what the founders sought to avoid. The way to do this is to maintain a "wall of separation" between the two.
All you have to do is learn about the political and religious climate of the time to understand what their intention was.
2007-07-18 08:13:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No one is stopping you from practicing your religion.
We're just trying to stop you from forcing EVERYONE to practice your religion.
What the amendment says that Congress can't make any law establishing a religion.
In other words, you can't get the government to shove your unwanted religion down everyone else's throats.
You are not sent to jail for practicing your religion -- practice away; believe any insane thing you want.
Whoever told you thte government is preventing your practice of your religion was lying to you.
2007-07-18 13:52:43 · answer #6 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Separation of church and state is actually in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson I believe (Memory kind of rusty), but you are perfectly right. The only reason its upheld so high is because the supreme court agreed with it. Kinda lame, but yeah gotta deal with it...for now
God Bless
2007-07-18 08:14:58 · answer #7 · answered by J 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I understand the First Amendment perfectly. And you are correct in your interpretation. The First Amendment exists to guarantee citizens the right to religious freedom without persecution for their beliefs.
2007-07-18 08:10:54 · answer #8 · answered by kja63 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You are so right! But today there is a movement towards tolerance of all religions, except, of course, for any religion that is intolerant. Christianity claims that only those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can be saved. That is intolerant of other religions, and therefore, not tolerable.
2007-07-18 08:14:39 · answer #9 · answered by sdb deacon 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just how do you imagine it would be possible to have freedom of religion if one particular religion was making all the rules?
2007-07-18 08:12:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋