It is often times taught a hundred times over that we live in a nation that lives with the rule that we must separate church and state. However, this is not really true, so can we separate church and state, and how would you propose going about this process?
2007-09-07 18:44:35 · 18 answers · asked by Adam 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
No, it is not possible for a free people to separate church and state. The ethical make up of individuals must (and will) always find its way into the councils of government. Those who insist that there is (and should continue to be) a "wall" separating church and state tend to point to an early statement (from a letter) made by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. The Danbury Baptists were a religious minority in Connecticut, and they complained that in their state, the religious liberties they enjoyed were not seen as immutable rights, but as privileges granted by the legislature - as "favors granted." Jefferson's reply did not address their concerns about problems with state establishment of religion - only of establishment on the national level. The letter contains the phrase "wall of separation between church and state," which led to the short-hand for the Establishment Clause that we use today: "Separation of church and state." Unfortunately no such meaning was ever intended by Jefferson, even according to his own subsequent writings in which he specifically addressed the misuse of his phrasing regarding a wall-of-separation. They feared that if the government were to adopt a state religion, as it had done in England, that their minority views would be trampled, and they themselves subject to further persecution. Jefferson wrote his letter to them to reassure them that they would remain free to worship as they wished, without needing to fear government interference in their religious beliefs or practices. In fact, he borrowed the term “wall of separation” from famous Baptist minister Roger Williams.
2007-09-14 02:48:58 · answer #1 · answered by Don C 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, when the pope first suggested the idea in the 1300's what was he thinking. He was the supreme religious leader of the European continent and yet HE proposed the idea of separation of temporal and spiritual interests.
Why? Because all too often the desires and needs of the temporal world corrupted the intention and purpose of the spiritual.
Prince A, supports the church and is attacked by Prince B, who is also supported by the church. So after all of Prince A's guys are killed, Prince B goes to Rome to seek absolution for the job well done.
This is how you get yourself into trouble, What do princes D, E and F think about you if you give B absolution. Will they revolt? Will they come to your aid if you're in trouble?
This is the essential problem you got into with a policy of Church and State perfect together.
Examined another way, If I'm a Adamsian and suggest we design and use the government to pay for my new religious center of the Church of the Holy Rodents? How do you feel about that if you are a simple Protestant?
Should we exclude certain faiths, which one's? Neoconservatives say all Muslims hate us all passionately, so Muslims perhaps? Or Jews ? Catholics certainly are doing fine on their own perhaps we shouldn't include them? Churches with denominations numbering under 20 perhaps?
Furthermore, once we've established the new faith based government services , we can't have 7th day adventists just strolling about, they need to be brought into more conventional thinking, State policy should convert all the stray protestants back to Simple Lutheranism , it will save on paperwork and increase revenues when standard tithing mandates are increased next year.
Oh BTW, the kids, well they were kind of misbehaving based on moral code 105-5 subsection 2, the other day so they have to go to re-education camp and come to think of it - you used to be some flavor of non-sanctioned Christian too , perhaps it's best if you just come with us.
What an awesome idea! State Sanctioned Mc God!
2007-09-07 19:30:42 · answer #2 · answered by Mark T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It can never truly be done for to do so would void a lot of the Bill of Rights. For the United States was founded on Christian beliefs and principles. But unfortunately most people have forgotten this, which is a real shame. Since the founding fathers more so than men of today truly understood the teachings and ways of Jesus. What we need to do is find the balance that separates church and state but acknowledges Christianities rule in the founding of this Great Nation of ours. This Nation where all are free to worship what ever god or gods they chose freely and openly under the law. ( my religious believes are not christian, Islamic or Jewish) what it is classified as under current definitions is either Paganism or Heathenism.
2007-09-07 19:12:08 · answer #3 · answered by lord_he_aint_right_nda_head 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The statement "seperation of church and state" seems to be taken as such that people think the seperation should be a mile wide. In fact all it means (and says) is that the state shall not adopt an offical religion or denomination. Not like when England used to have an offical church and religion forcing everyone to observe.
After 200 years it's gone from not forcing people to observe any particular religion or denomination to if a cross appears somewhere on public property the enter country will parish if it isn't removied.
Utter nonesece. Nobody is even close to violating the seperation of church and state.
2007-09-07 18:57:37 · answer #4 · answered by Gary V 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well it's impossible, because church and state must imply, in order to work with the equal rights clause, all religions and state. However, atheism is a religion too, based on unfounded ideas about a God. Atheism also causes people to act a certain way and make judgments a certain way. If atheism itself ruled, for example, religions wouldn't be allowed to practice freely with promise of funds, they wouldn't be able to respect traditional values, etc. So a little bit of religion is necessary. And if you're thinking of the evangelical right, they are a small minority totally magnified in the news.
2007-09-07 19:08:35 · answer #5 · answered by TheUber1337 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I suppose we could under a dictatorship. Since morality comes from religion and is required for a republic to function, I believe this is why the Constitution never mentioned anything about separation of church and state and instead guaranteed religious freedom and no state-sponsored church.
2007-09-07 19:10:05 · answer #6 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No and here is why. Every time a court steps in and says you can't pray in school, class or say the words Under God (hypothetically here) then technically government is stepping in and trying to separate church and state. Yet at the same time government is interfering making that separation impossible. Here lies the heart of the problem.
2007-09-07 19:04:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually it's a work in progress. Sometime during their next session, the supreme court will likely hear oral arguments for removing god from the pledge of allegiance when recited in a public school. Last year the courts ruled against a Pennsylvania school board trying to add intelligent design to the public school curriculum. Now we need to get to work on getting god removed from our money. Someday we will truly have a government that does not recognize the delusion of god in any way. And for one of the answerers above, no, it would not affect the bill of rights in any way. That's rediculous.
2007-09-07 23:16:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think it's pretty impossible because if a person is truly religious and they are an elected official. their religion will dictate the moral code they live by. that moral code in turn effects the decisions they make while they are in office. I feel the need to underline the word truly in the first sentence.
2007-09-07 18:53:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Keep Religion in your Churches and your homes not in Public places where Jews,Muslims,Buddhists,Wiccans, Atheist and other religions go to do business.Or be educated
2007-09-12 18:36:53 · answer #10 · answered by mw 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋