Separation of Church and State

[50_Cent's_dog]

I have heard so much about " Separation of Church and State." I looked it up on the internet the other day. There is no such wording as " Separation of Church and State." This is what the First Amendment says,"Congress shall pass no laws 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 grievance.

I am tired of Atheists and God haters yelling," Separation of Church and State." The ACLU fights to have our 10 Commandment statues taken down because they claim it violates Separation of Church and State. They also want (In GOD WE TRUST) taken off our money. What does the first amendment to the Constitution really mean? To be honest it confuses me with the wording.

[Prodigalson123]

I have heard so much about " Separation of Church and State." I looked it up on the internet the other day. There is no such wording as " Separation of Church and State." This is what the First Amendment says,"Congress shall pass no laws 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 grievance.

I am tired of Atheists and God haters yelling," Separation of Church and State." The ACLU fights to have our 10 Commandment statues taken down because they claim it violates Separation of Church and State. They also want (In GOD WE TRUST) taken off our money. What does the first amendment to the Constitution really mean? To be honest it confuses me with the wording.

It comes from a letter that Thomas jefferson sent to the danbury Baptist Church. They wrote to the president for help against another denomination, and Jefferson said he couldn't intervene, that there must be a wall between church and state. Then Judge Hugo Black expanded on this when a man sued his town for tax money not to be spent on transportation for a private catholic school. It has grown from that.

[50_Cent's_dog]

It simply means the government is not to set up a national religion like Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Lutheran, etc. It doesn't mean there must be a separation of church and state like the God haters are claiming it does. Thanks for reminding us of what the Constitution really says.

Thanks Butero, That helped me understand what they were talking about alittle bit better. It is ashame how someone can say one thing and someone can take it the wrong way. They will interpret a document to fit there agenda even though that isn't what the document was meant to do.

[EricH]

The separation of church and state as conceived by the founders was designed to proptect the church from government interference, not the other way around

[O'Dannyboy]

The separation of church and state as conceived by the founders was designed to proptect the church from government interference, not the other way around

I couldn't have said it better.

[hebrews_beauty]

Separation of church and state is a good thing. I don't want the government taking over my faith or another faith, nor do I want the country's money, flag, whatever supporting any given faith. The US is not a theocracy.

[Iryssa]

That pukey smiley makes me want to puke...just so you know...

[O'Dannyboy]

Separation of church and state is a good thing.

The problem with the popular interpritation is that it precludes the moral influence religion (namely Christianity) has in decission making as well. Without the moral influence on policy and decission making, the only guidelines that remain are the previous decissions themselves.

[Copper Scroll]

The problem with the popular interpritation is that it precludes the moral influence religion (namely Christianity) has in decission making as well. Without the moral influence on policy and decission making, the only guidelines that remain are the previous decissions themselves.

There is a such thing as secular morality. Secular moralities may not be identity to Christian moralities, but Christian moralities are not even identical to each other.

I agree with the essense of what you are saying. If there is no transcendent God, then there is nothing left for us to value but material idols (which are created and then are destroyed). But as long as there is some moral standards we all (people of every faith and those without faith) can agree to, there is common ground upon which we can build a just social order without the involvement of religious institutions or doctrines.

[50_Cent's_dog]

Separation of church and state is a good thing. I don't want the government taking over my faith or another faith, nor do I want the country's money, flag, whatever supporting any given faith. The US is not a theocracy.

I agree and disagree with you. The government should not influence the church because that is the Holy Spirits job. But I disagree with you because I want the Holy Spirit to influence our government. How blessed the government of the United States of America would be if the Holy Spirit took control. Don't you agree?