What is "Separation of church and state"....?

Question

It seems like a lot of modernized people believe this means to take the "church" out of the state completely and abolish it as a whole.... when in fact all it means is that the state cannot interfere with the church or tell people what they can practice or when they can practice or where...

The concept of separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state. The term is an offshoot of the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state," as written in Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists Association in 1802. The original text reads: "...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 & State."

Jefferson reflected his frequent speaking theme that the government is not to interfere with religion. The phrase was quoted by the United States Supreme Court first in 1878, and then in a series of cases starting in 1947. Like many other governing principles, the phrase "separation of church and state" itself does not appear in the U.S. Constitution.

The concept of separating church and state is often credited to the writings of English philosopher John Locke. According to his principle of the social contract, Locke argued that the government lacked authority in the realm of individual conscience, as this was something rational people could not cede to the government for it or others to control. For Locke, this created a natural right in the liberty of conscience, which he argued must therefore remain protected from any government authority. These views on religious tolerance and the importance of individual conscience, along with his social contract, became particularly influential in the American colonies and the drafting of the United States Constitution.


I am a Christian...I don't pray in public for the simple fact that I don't want to and I would rather do that in private..but if someone else prays...even people of different decent and different religions pray in public...schools, courts etc...It don't bother me...do what you will, just don't ask me to be a part of it!!

Atheists disagree with the 10 commandments being in the court and praying in school... but why does it need to be taken out because you disagree...these same people would be in an uproar if Christmas, July 4th, Thanksgiving etc wasn't recognized because a different group of people disagreed...

again, I feel this is more towards "new" atheist... I know a lot of old atheist that have the same philosophy of letting it be and if you don't like it..then don't look..

But what has seriously went wrong with this "Separation of State" logic in this world...

I know I am gonna get a lot of "hate" mail because religion is -very- controversial....but seriously...answer respectfully....I respect everyone's difference in opinions and want the same back....I don't respect a lack of intellect though...being rude and cussing does not prove your battle... Thank You!!!!

Answer 1

Separation of State was to protect religious people from trying to influence laws that would harm people of different religions - or even different sects of the same religion.



Quakers and Puritans, for example, were Christians. But the majority of Christians did not accept them to be "true" Christians. But just because you were a Quaker or a Puritan, didn't mean that anyone had the right to prevent you from attending a school where Protestants went to school. That would go against your rights granted to you by the Constitution: freedom of religion.



So you're right in the sense that the government has no right to completely abolish a religion. But the government *Does* have a right to keep religion out of public schools. (Private schools are funded by the parents and founders. Because they are paying for it, they can have religious private schools).



I am also fine if someone is praying in public. I respect that and I don't bother them about it too. I'm an atheist. Please do not assume that all atheists disrespect Christianity - I know it's easy to get that vibe off of here. But two of my best friends in the world are Christian. If they pray I wait quietly and say nothing



What people have a problem with is an ENFORCED prayer in public schools. You see, it wouldn't be fair if all the public schools were required to make everyone pray. Think about it - say you happened to go to a school where the population was mostly Muslim. And the teachers said "You must pray to Allah now". Well that wouldn't be very fair to you, would it? That's why we have separation of church and state. It's so all religious people have the freedom to worship as they will. If a Muslim starts praying at the beginning of the school day, then I certainly don't mind.

Answer 2

It means the church should have no influence on government policy. Unless you want to live in Iran, you should consider it a good thing. Also the first amendment clearly states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.". It may not be mentioned as an exact phrase, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.

Answer 3

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RE:

What is "Separation of church and state"....?

It seems like a lot of modernized people believe this means to take the "church" out of the state completely and abolish it as a whole.... when in fact all it means is that the state cannot interfere with the church or tell people what they can practice or when they can practice or...

Answer 4

I am always amused by people who try to reinvent Thomas Jefferson in a manner that is sympathetic to Right Wing Christians opposed to the idea of a Separation between Church and State.



"Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects every individual. Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the "wall of separation between church and state," therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.

We have solved, by fair experiment, the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and obedience to the laws. And we have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort which results from leaving every one to profess freely and openly those principles of religion which are the inductions of his own reason and the serious convictions of his own inquiries."

-- Thomas Jefferson, to the Virginia Baptists (1808)

Answer 5

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." From the first Amendment to the US Constitution.



Yes, you identified the concept of spearation of church and state (wall of separation) correctly to Jefferson's letter to the Danbury (CT) Baptists, assuring them that the fledgling US government would make no law against their religion, because the baptists feared the majority influence being wielded by the Danbury (CT) Congregationalists.



We should not have prayer in public schools because public schools are funded with public funds. Not everyone in the public is religious, and even some who are do not agree with time spent in prayer. We do not want christians to dictate to others the allocation of public school time. Similarly, we do not want religious displays on public grounds that are erected and maintained with public funds, because some of us are not religious.

Answer 6

Separation of church and state is to ensure religious freedom. Banning religion would violate the separation of church and state. So fear not.



Imagine how I a Buddhist would feel in an officially Christian nation? Still no sympathy? K imagine yourself in Iran, an officially Shi'a nation.





You will never get a state recognized religion, if you did, it would not be your church, and you would feel bad about it.

Answer 7

separation church state

Answer 8

I would suppose that according to your argument, you wouldn't mind seeing the same places posed with the hundreds of commandments the Jews have, like not eating pork and such. You realize you just picked 10 of theirs instead of the whole group, right? Or how about posting some of the Amish rules, or Mormons? How about a few things from Sharia Law? What about public schools playing the call to prayer over the intercom several times per day? Or do you mean you want to separate all religions except your specific one from the state?

Answer 9

It means the government cannot persecute you for practicing religion. Remember, the writers of the Constitution were all too aware of the Church of England, and they wanted no part of a Church of the United States.



Unfortunately, parties on both side of the issue have twisted this clause in whatever way it pleases them.

Answer 10

In a nutshell: Religion stays out of government affairs and vice versa.

Answer 11

The same reason that the ideas of interracial marriages should be illegal, and slavery was a god given right stem from the same thought process. No amount of religion could ever justify the sheer level of stupidity and discrimination.



Religion out of government, and vice versa.

Answer 12

Simple:Religion stays out of government affairs.It's as simple as that.

Answer 13

uh yes

Answer 14

Yes, but where is the question?

Answer 15

Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President and who understood the intent of the Constitutional signers as he was their contemperary. Here are some quotes from Jefferson on interpretation of the Constitution;



""""The Constitution on which our Union rests, shall be administered by me [as President] according to the safe and honest meaning contemplated by the plain understanding of the people of the United States at the time of its adoption--a meaning to be found in the explanations of those who advocated, not those who opposed it, and who opposed it merely lest the construction should be applied which they denounced as possible."""



""""On every question of construction carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed."""



During Jeffersons Presidency he lived out the intent of the founding fathers in a tangible manner diametrically opposed to our practice of the left wings manufactured "Seperation of Church and State".

Here are but some of the legal and unopposed functions of Jefferson as President;



* Used the Bible and nondenominational religious instruction in the public schools. He was involved in three different school districts, and the plan in each required that the Bible be taught in our public schools.

* Promoted legislative and military chaplains.

* Established a national seal using a biblical symbol.

* Included the word "God" in our national motto.

* Established official days of fasting and prayer at the state level.

* Punished Sabbath breakers.

* Punished marriages contrary to biblical law.

* Protected the property of churches.

* Required that oaths be phrased by the words "So help me God" and be sworn on the Bible.

* Granted land to Christian schools.

* Allowed government property and facilities to be used for worship.



* Allowed and encouraged clergymen to hold public office.

* Funded religious books for public libraries.

* Funded salaries for missionaries.

* Exempted churches from taxation.

* Established professional schools of theology.

* Wrote treaties requiring other nations to guarantee religious freedom, including religious speeches and prayer in official ceremonies.



Praise be to God through Jesus Christ His Son.

Answer 16

tl;dr