Separation of church and state?

Question

Do you believe that this is something to be debated, or something that is absolute?

Is this a controversial issue dreamt up by left wingers and imposed upon a christian nation or is there a clear separation between church and state written into the constitution?

Answer 1

It is written in the constitution, and for good reason. Anyone who looks into British history knows that the Church played a major roll in the government. The king was using the church to keep a tyrannical hold on everyone (as in "you have to worship my god, or else")

Because of this persecution, the first non government issued settling occurred. To escape the forced religion of England, people came to the Americas.

Answer 2

The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER*** will talk to this question, because of the fact his wisdumb is All understanding. you would be smart to take heed to his words of wisdumb.chatting with the exchange to the shape with regard to faith, and government. It reads like this. the government shall not understand the corporate of any faith, or block the corporate of any faith. For you babies of god that don't understand what the be conscious understand potential please seem it up.a lot of you won't be able to examine ,or understand what you examine. I The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER***will clarify it to you. understand: to teach, or carry in intense regard for one ingredient over yet another Now do you think of you could determine what which potential. while it is composed of religions the government. could desire to stay impartial. In different words stay out of the corporate of marketing , or demoting any faith,be become autonomous from,not inspire one over the different. Do the straightforward xristian minds in this panel get it. The***PRAYNOGRAPHER***thinks the time era could desire to assert "The separation of church and ideas.i think of it may be secure to assert that xristians, a minimum of a lot of those I even have regularly occurring , don't have a working ideas.they could desire to be led around like a puppy on a leash. church homes do not pay their straightforward proportion in taxes,or do not pay any . Then they could desire to stay out of a central authority they don't help. The ***PRAYNOGRAPHER***has spoken. Now pass away and be born lower back in the previous I spank you!!!!

Answer 3

Absolute.

Thomas Jefferson was a left winger imposing his rights! I love it! The first amendment states, (FIRST! in the Bill of Rights),

" Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Our founding fathers thought this was one of the most important functions of our society. They drew from the writings of John Locke who thought government lacked authority in the personal choices like this.

Were they left wingers? Or rational men?

Rodger Williams escaped religious oppression (by a different Christian sect), to found Rhode Island, a state based on principle and neutrality of faith.

But that is history. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights is a living document. It lives up to change and time. I am not Christian, my family is not Christian, that is why we are here. We came here along with millions of other non-Christians to enjoy the freedoms of being equal.

The government, and it's buildings, it's laws MUST remain an objective, impartial and NEUTRAL entity, so the minority and majority can enjoy equal protection and rights under the law if we are to remain a strong and powerful nation guided by principles, not by faith...and yes, even atheists have principle.

Answer 4

It's definitely an issue and definitely written into the Constitution. The only thing that is dreamed up is the notion of a 'Christian nation'. The only reason it is debated is because of the Christians trying to impose their views on everyone else. If they'd leave well enough alone it wouldn't be an issue.

Answer 5

Everything in the U.S. Constitution is debatable. That is why it is called a living document. Things can be changed or even just interpreted differently. I think the first amendment clearly shows that there should be separation between church and state. The degree of which needs to be decided by each passing generation through debate.

Answer 6

Our Forefathers were quite clear about the dangers of church and state confusing boundaries, entering into each one's bailiwick. They knew by first hand experience what can happen when rulers dictate what should you believe and practice, and when clergy and church leadership choose sides in politics.

Yes, I believe that we should hold discussion, but I also believe that the Constitution supports a clear separation of Church and state.

My mother, my mother's sister, and my grandfather struggled with a Communist state who wished to close down churches and religious schools. This was the PRI-run revolutionary state in Mexico. Many peope died, were imprisoned, and otherwise suffered from a situation where politics interfered with religion.

Those of you who think that left wingers are the only ones who support separation of church and state should learn your history, including that of the Communist revolutions, the Nazi Third Reich, the history of the Church and the Inquisition, the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation.

My mother's family are quite opposed to any left wing rule, but they are clear and firm in their desire for proper separation of church and state. We know how bad it can get when you confuse the two. We remember. My mother and aunt were detained by authorities for only political reasons. My grandfather was on a hit list to be "eliminated" by a death squad. He assisted the Archbishop of Guadalajara to escape on the red-eye train to Los Angeles some time in the early forties. That is part of our story how we came to arrive in this great country where freedom thrives.

God bless the USA!

Answer 7

I advise you to have a look at the Treaty With Tripoli to see if we are a "Christian nation" or not.

Answer 8

Look up the "establishment clause" of the constitution. It's in there. Basically, it says the government cannot adopt any one particular religion as its official religion.

It has been interpreted over the years to mean that any activity respecting a particular religion (praying in school, displaying the Ten Commandments, etc) on public or government-owned property is tantamount to 'establishing' that religion. A bit odd if you ask me... Even though I'm an atheist, I do NOT believe that people praying in school is offensive in the slightest, nor do I believe it establishes Christianity as the official religion of the country. If people want to pray, so what? It doesn't hurt my freedoms!

Answer 9

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof .
That is what people think is the phrase that separates church and state. In reality, it doesn't say anything like that.
The phrase separation of church and state is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, where Jefferson spoke of the combined effect of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. In that letter Jefferson wrote, "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state." The phrase "separation of church and state" itself does not appear in the Constitution, but it has been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court.

Answer 10

It's written into the constitution.

It was written in there because in England everyone had to follow the religion of the king. So when the colonists formed their own country (The United States of America), they wrote into the constitution that everyone in the US would have religious freedom to practice whatever religion (or lack there of) that they choose. Therefore, the US Government is supposed to be non-religious, leaving all religiousness up to the individual citizens.

However, since the vast majority of the US population has always been Christian, christian references and mentions of God naturally find their way into our government, like the way US money says, "In God we trust".