Seperation of Church and State,

Question

I do not understand, I thought this was suppose to be seperate according to a law?

Answer 1

You understand perfectly.  However, it is an easy way to get votes, and a politician's job isn't to res represent constituency  His job is to keep his job.  The religious right eats that **** up.

Answer 2

we're under a religious government

Answer 3

It is mentioned in 2 places in the Constitution. Article VI states that there will be no religious test to hold office in the US government, and the 1st amendment is even more explicit. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Answer 4

The separation principle is indeed supposed to be a law, but it is a law which needs to be interpreted and applied to real-life, flesh-and-blood cases, which has proven to be maddeningly difficult. It is also maddening to try to be consistent about it.

Answer 5

They are seperate.  Last time I checked we didn't have a government imposed religion.

Answer 6

No law says that there should be a separation.  It is a concept only.  It is no where in the Constitution nor is it in the Declaration of Independence.  

It is false to cite it as a legal reason for separation.  People incorrectly interpret the idea that there is no National Religion allowed per the Constitution as justification.

Answer 7

The following is the letter written by Thomas Jefferson from which we have established the seperation of Church and State.  Note that in this letter he had no mention of the church in the governments business, only that of the government staying out of the church and to give individuals right to exercise their right to worship!

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem & approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more & more pleasing.

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. [Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorised only to execute their acts, I have refrained from presenting even occasional performances of devotion presented indeed legally where an Executive is the legal head of a national church, but subject here, as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect.] Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

(signed) Thomas Jefferson

Jan.1.1802.

Answer 8

Government will never be completely separated from religion in a country where it is valued so heavily. All the law attempts to do is create an environment where multiple religions can co-exist without bias to one in government. Although this is not always true, that is the general direction in which this country has worked towards.