Essay on The Separation of Church and State - 1043 Words

The Separation of Church and State America wastes a lot of time trying to create a democracy completely absent of the moral expectations that our ancestors have put into place. Our founding fathers’ dream of establishing a country in which all people would be accepted has begun to fall. In our attempt to rid our country of a democracy contaminated with any belief in a supreme power, we have rid ourselves of many of our values and morals. Perhaps it is impossible for religion to dominate our political country, but we have misinterpreted the original intent of â€Å"separation of church and state† and taken this concept too far. Supposedly our country is split between church and state, but examples in our government show otherwise.†¦show more content†¦Let’s take a look at what our founding fathers thought: â€Å"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 peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.† (Amendment I, The Constitution of the United States of America) The above quote is the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States. In no part does our constitution mention a â€Å"separation of church and state.† What it does mention is that Congress is forbidden to tamper with the religious beliefs and practices of its people. Separation of church and state was first mentioned in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association. This letter promised that the new form of American government would not overrun the churches or their religious practices. â€Å"To Messrs. Nehemiah Dodge and Others, a Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association, in the State of Connecticut January 1, 1802. Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, IShow MoreRelatedSeparation Of Church And State1446 Words   |  6 Pagesthe separation of church and state still necessary in the overall legal and social aspects of a modern society such as the United States? Research and history show that maintaining the church separate from the government is important for the ongoing success of a free and well functioning society. Separation of church and state is a political and legal doctrine which states that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent from one another. Ideally, the church shouldRead MoreSeparation Of Church And State Essay1513 Words   |  7 PagesSeparation of church and state is a defined as, the understanding of the intent, and function of the Establishment Clause, and Free Exercise Clause. The Combination of church and state has been a topic that, many generations have struggled with for centuries. The first amendment of the constitution states that â€Å"Congress shall make no law about our religious beliefs, or prohibiting our free exercise of religion† If we put our faith in the constitution to define the founding father’s standpoint ofRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State902 Words   |  4 PagesA Closer look at the Separation of Church and State in the United States Although â€Å"God† is mentioned in the Constitution, this country was built upon the principle of separation of church and state. Despite this ideal, those elected into office: propose, pass, and deny laws based on their religious beliefs, completely disregarding the previously mentioned principle. The problem with that is that the country is so ethnically and culturally diverse that one religion representing an entire nation ofRead MoreThe separation of church and state1200 Words   |  5 PagesThe separation of church and state has been a long debated topic in the history of America. Although founded upon Christian ideals, the framers of the Constitution explicitly outlined the government to function secularly, in what is commonly referred to as the â€Å"Establishment Clause†. When interpreting the Constitution in regards to religion, there are two primary philosophies. The first philosophy this paper will explore will be referred to as Positive Toleration. In gen eral, the idea of positiveRead MoreSeparation of Church and State701 Words   |  3 PagesSeparation of Church and State To understand Locke’s argument for the separation of church and state you first need to understand what the purpose of the government is. Locke stated that the government is supposed to support civil interest. These civil interests include property, life, and security. Therefore the government’s job is to protect the civil interests of the people using force lawfully. Once Locke institutes the power of the government he develops three important assumptions vitalRead MoreSeparation Of Church And State1095 Words   |  5 PagesThe separation of church and state has been encountered and challenged several times in the Supreme Court, which was first mentioned by Thomas Jefferson. However it is not solidly stated in the Constitution on what is right or wrong and good or bad. This theory was modified from various elements from the Constitution essentially the first and fourteenth amendments. In the first amendment it is written Congress shall make no law respecting an esta blishment of religion or prohibiting the free exerciseRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State1632 Words   |  7 Pages We are currently living in a time where freedom of religion is guaranteed in the United States. It has been since the first amendment of the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1791. The first amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting the establishment of religion or impeding the free exercise of religion ( (Rotunda, 2004). This amendment established the separation of church and government that our country was founded on and still practices today. We as Americans are freeRead MoreSeparation Of Church And State1825 Words   |  8 PagesSeparation of church and state refers to the division of the relationship between religion and government. Various laws apply to different countries around the world about the separation of church and state. Some involve religion so much into their daily lives; it controls how their country is run. In other places, where it is not mandated as much, it becomes a problem in disputing what is and what is not right. The United States of America faces this issue as they struggle deciding what the meaningRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State1594 Words   |  7 Pagesdirection and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, and inhabitants of communities, societies, and states. While documents have been written to help the leaders of our country, there is constant debate over what changes need to be made. Some believe that the country is falling apart while others think minor adjustments need to be made. The separation of church and state is also a topic of debate. The question of what needs to be changed and where religion falls in all of this are alwaysRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesThe separation between church and state is a debate that continues to grow with tension as the culture of America rapidly polarizes. A long-standing claim that America was founded on Christian doctrine is a common argument in favor of the church and state to remain tog ether, yet the most commonly used metaphor explaining what the â€Å"Separation of Church and State† contextually means in today’s terms is simply that government and religion should not coincide with one another in any capacity. Evidence