Why do we try to have separation of Church and State?

Question

The constitution does not say anything about separation of Church and State.

Separation of Church and state means that Government cannot have religion.

The constitution says that the Government cannot create a religion or ban a religion, it says nothing about not being able to show religion on Government property.

Don't believe me? Shall I quote the the Constitution? "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So why can we not have the Ten Commandments in courthouses? Why can we not have Christmas Trees in City halls?

The government cannot ban anyone from practicing religion on government property. The only place you can be banned from practicing religion is on private such as retail or a residence.

I quoted the first amendment word for word. I have a copy of the constitution right next to me. if you can find anywhere in the constitution where it says "Separation of Church and State" quote it for me.

Answer 1

Posting the ten commandments implies establishing a particular religion...

Answer 2

Keep in mind anyone can context the constitution the way they want it...for example our founding fathers who wrote it thought religion was a joke, they wanted nothing to do with religion, but they new people in America needed freedom to practice it...which in turn is why they said no religion can be in politics ... see "The Middle Ages" when millions were killed in the name of Christ...they didn't want this repeating so they made a separation of church in state......You say the Ten Commandments....Why not the 6 Pillars of Islam?

Answer 3

You cannot have an establishment clause and a free exercise clause without having a separation of church and state.

The phrase doesn't have to be there--the phrase describes what IS there.

Answer 4

Separation of Church and State is a phrase that comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists, in which he referred to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as creating a "wall of separation" between church and state. The phrase was then quoted by the United States Supreme Court first in 1878, and then in a series of cases starting in 1947. The phrase "separation of church and state" became a definitive part of Establishment Clause jurisprudence in Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947), a case which dealt with a state law that allowed the use of government funds for transportation to religious schools.

It's not in the constitution, but it's been interpreted to be implied in it by the supreme court.

Also, Thomas Paine (author of the 1776 pamphlets of "Common Sense" which greatly influenced Americans to go to war with England) once said in his pamphlet (in response to a pamphlet distributed by the Quakers that was against the revolution) that, "...here without anger or resentment I bid you farewel. Sincerely wishing, that...the example which ye have unwisely set, of mingling religion with politics, may be disavowed and reprobated by every inhabitant of America."

Answer 5

To keep religious zealots from imposing their religious beliefs on others.  Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion.  Just remember that others may have different beliefs than you, do you want those beliefs imposed on you?   I suspect not so why do you think you should have the right to impose your beliefs on others?  You want Christmas trees?   Someone else might want an inverted pentagram or an upside down cross.  Can YOU live with that?