What Is Separation of Church and State?
When the role of religion in politics comes up in today's public discourse, the phrase
"separation of church and state" is often part of the conversation. Proponents say this separation is law and must be maintained. Opponents say that this phrase never appears in the Constitution and goes too far in taking religion out of public life. Where does this phrase come from, and what does it mean?
What is the separation of church and state?
The words
"separation of church and state" do not appear in the U.S. Constitution, but the concept is enshrined in the very first freedom guaranteed by
the First Amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." Known as
the establishment clause, the opening lines of the First Amendment prohibit the government from
creating an official religion or favoring one religion (or nonreligion) over another.
The separation of church and state enables all Americans to practice their deeply held beliefs in private and in public.
Why the separation of church and state matters
The founders disagreed about the exact meaning of
"no establishment" under the First Amendment, and those arguments continue today. But ultimately, preventing government from interfering with religion is an essential principle of religious liberty.
Without separating church from state, true religious freedom is impossible.
Allowing one religious group preferential access or power can lead to a polarizing and contentious environment where "We the People" applies only to those in the majority at any given moment. Government support of religion puts some people's rights and beliefs over those of others. In the worst cases, it can require everyone — believers and nonbelievers alike — to jeopardize their beliefs to get equal treatment under the law.
The idea of separation of church and state ensures the government cannot exercise undue influence over Americans' spiritual and religious lives. From ending
school-mandated prayer to banning the government from coercing Americans to participate in religious activities, the wall of separation has been an essential tool in building a freer democracy. And this uniquely American approach has resulted in one of the most religiously diverse nations in history.
Critically, the establishment clause separates church from state but not religion from politics or public life. People are free to bring their religious convictions into the public square precisely because the government must treat all faiths equally.
This includes politicians who are free to express their religious beliefs — but not to sponsor legislation based solely on religious convictions. The establishment clause protects the majority from undue influence from the government and encourages
lesser-known religious traditions to
petition the government for equal rights.
By removing the government's ability to give preferential treatment to one religion (or religion in general), the separation of church and state promotes religious pluralism and allows all Americans to practice their deeply held beliefs in private and public.
What is separation of church and state and where does this concept appear in the Constitution? Here's everything you should know.
www.freedomforum.org
This is how is should be with all countries around the world.
Unfortunately in the US and other western countries there are those who wish to combine church and state so that Christianity can use government authority to stamp out evil and all the other ills that trouble the nation.
Clearly they have forgotten the dark ages. And they have not learned from Islamic countries that use sharia law which is about personal religious practices of muslims as part of state law.
