Separation of Church and State
December 26th, 2009
Separation of church and state is the political idea that government and religion should remain separate. Essentially it means a secular government that doesn’t establish or endorse any religion what so ever. On the question about god(s) and religion its answer would be “I don’t know and have no opinion”.
The term “separation of church and state” doesn’t appear in the constitution but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply. The term “wall of separation of church and state” was coined by Baptist theologian Roger Williams[1]. It was later use by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists2. It is from these that we get the term “separation of church and state”.
Though the term wasn’t used in the constitution its still applies. The first amendment states
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;[3]
article 6 of The United States constitution says
no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.[4]
and the Treaty of Tripoli says in plain english
the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;[5]
So it is quite clear that the US has (well is supposed to have) a secular government separate from religion, we are supposed to have a separation of church and state.
© 2009 all rights reserved
Sourses
1. Roger Williams on Liberty of Conscience page 313
2. Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists
3. First Amendment
4. Article 6 of The United States Constitution
5. Treaty of Tripoli
Categories: Belief, Church and State, Politics, Religion
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