Does anyone believe the idea that the separation of church and state is part of the US Constitution.?

Question

Does anyone believe the idea that the separation of church and state is part of the US Constitution.?

Answer 1

it's an interpretation of the 1st Amendment.

If it is perceived that the government is supporting one religion over another, then it is all to easy for that perception to become reality.

Answer 2

the constitution only states that the federal govt will not set up a "national religion"  

That does not mean that religion as a whole cannot play a part in the federal or state govts.  IE Chaplains in the military...........so on

Answer 3

well, there is a clear attempt to separate something regarding church and state with this  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

that is undeniable.   There is something the founders did not want about religion and government. My personal interpretation is  that the part about congress shall make no law establishment of religions means exactly that ..it means the government cannot create a national religion and then persecute citizens who do not believe it.  Assuming you agree with that, then it follows that the govt should show no preference towards any particular religion as preference can be construed as establishing a religion or the beginnings of it.

As for the congress will not prohibit free excercise part, I think it is meant to protect the practice of religion and any religion you want....and is another way of saying the govt will not create a national religion by having preference or making it harder for others in religions that the govt does not like to practice their religions.

Yes...it adds up to separation of church and state....its clear thats the intent and the reason for it is to prevent theocracy which is a form of tyranny and to provide freedom to practice any religion you choose without fear of govt interfering or telling you you cant practice it...etc...

If you believe in freedom, then you understand the value of this very important protection.

now of course some people will say they believe in freedom but that the USA is a christian country and that there is nothing to prevent the govt from leaning towards christianity etc... they say  that of course because they are christian but not only christian they like the little things that govt can do here and there to make christian faith dominate our lives.  But they say they dont want a theocracy, but they wont mind prayer at beginning of the school day in public schools or making bible study part of public school curriculum or a big cross in front of city hall etc.....  They forget that tyranny never starts out going 100 miles an hour, but very often takes baby steps and then a fast walk, then a gallup and then gets up to speed.  The founders did all they could to make it clear they despised tyranny and did not want it to have any chance of taking hold in the country.

Answer 4

The words are not there, but the concept clearly is. The Constitution doesn't simply state that there will be no national religion, it states that congress will make no laws regarding the establishment of religion.

And no, this nation was not set up by Christians for Christians. Anyone who seriously believes that needs to read some history books.

Answer 5

To some degree yes, but I believe it has been subject to serious misinterpretation. The Constitution sought to exempt religion from political pressure.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

I have always read this to mean that the government cannot create a state religion, nor can they favor any single religion above any other. The Framers based their interpretation on the "Church Of England" and sought to avoid formation of another such organization which would abridge freedom of religious choice. Nowhere in the Constitution will you find any prohibition of the free exercise of religion even in government where it does not interfere with individual choice.

Answer 6

Yes. Everyone that has read and understood the the "No religious test" clause and the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

The "no religious test" clause of the United States Constitution is found in Article VI, section 3, and states that:

“ ...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ”

Establishment Clause "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...."  

Answer 7

You are right that no where in the constitution does the words separation of Church and State exist.  The founders fleeing the oppression of England and the King's Anglican Church put forth that the USA would not establish an official church of the state.  The reason was that England used even the Church as much of Europe did to control it's people.  The freedom of Religion is the part that the atheist miss the point of.  It is not freedom from but freedom of.  The Founding Fathers wanted to insure that all those who fled to practice their faith in their way or lack of it as they pleased without Government intrusion.  The Atheist who are a fraction of a fraction have twisted this to try to push religion out of public life claiming somehow letting Johnny and Jane praying before an exam at school harms their kid.  

Their even was an Atheist who tried to get a judge to order President Bush not to pray before making major governmental decisions.  The Judge was wise enough to tell this atheist he would never presume to tell the president what he can or can not do when it comes to his individual religious rights.

Answer 8

I do not.  The phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in the Constitution.  Thomas Jefferson used the phrase in a letter.  But it has been taken out of context.  Further, Mr. Jefferson was out of the country when the First Amendment was written, debated and ratified.

Those who use the phrase are perpetrating a fraud.

Answer 9

yes

but it insures freedom of religion, not freedom from relgion

Answer 10

to a degree... but not to the degree it has been construed in the past 50 years.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

So we cannot establish a state religion.  Nor can the state prohibit you from practicing your religion.  But that's about it.

Answer 11

NO

There is a limit on Congress or the Fed gov't to not select a national religion AND it forbids gov't from interfering with religion.  It says nothing about the States or local gov't

Answer 12

It IS.  Only an ignoramus resorts to inane arguments like, "I read the constitution, and those words aren't anywhere!"  You know what else isn't there?  Separation of Powers, Checks & Balances, or the Right to a Fair Trial, but no one argues that those are not part of our system of government.

Separation of Church and State is inherent in the Non-Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and the No Religious Test clause of Article VI.  Courts have consistently held, as far back as 1879, that Separation of Church and State IS constitutional.  If you don't like it, move to a nice theocratic country like Iran!

Answer 13

The ancient warrior expressed it best.

Answer 14

America was founded by Christians, for Christians. We need to get back to this concept. What is assured by the Constitution is freedom to practice any religion you wish. Nowhere does it say there is separation of Church and State.  

Answer 15

As other users have noted: yes, the constitution specifically and explicitly proscribes the establishment of a national or state religion. By opposing this 'establishmentarianism', the constitution is very clearly supporting a full and permanent separation of Church and State. And a good thing too!