Separation of Church and State?

Question

Even though America has "freedom of religion," it is quite apparent that Christianity rules over politics. Some laws have influences from Christianity, creationism is taught in some schools, etc.

Why is separation of church and state not doing what it has to do? Why are people allowing politics to be influenced by religion?

Answer 1

,We have freedom of religion, not freedom FROM religion. I guess you would like to go back and purge all (and there are many) references to God in our founding documents.



Christianity is the predominant religion in the U. S., so it naturally and appropriately influences public policy. Have you forgotten that churches played a strong role in the civil rights movement?



EDIT: Entropy--Evolution is just a theory. That's why it is called that, and not the "law of evolution." But those who think it is proved to be true beyond a shadow of a doubt have a fanaticism that equals that of any Christian fundamentalist. They ignore legitimate issues that bring at least parts of the theory into question.



Intelligent Design is not the same as creationism. It is simply the idea, proved mathematically, that our wonderful universe did not happen by accident. Yes, the world is several billion years old. Yes, some aspects of evolution may be one of the techniques God used to make us what we are. But to believe it all came to be by random chance is the most far-fetched, ludicrous notion conceivable.

Answer 2

Political decisions in a democracy are influenced by the people. If the people share a common philosophy/religion, the laws will reflect that. Actually, many ould argue that separation of C&S is actually TO HEALTHY in this country. There are anecdotal accounts where church groups are forbidden from doing things on public land that other secular groups are allowed to. An example I recall was a church group that had rented park space for years for some annual event. They paid and filled out forms like everyone else. Then, one year, the government refused them, citing C&S.



On creationism, I can only sigh and shake my head at the level of intellectual stupidity that anti-Darwin forces are capable of. Technically, creationism cannot be taught in PUBLIC schools, but some districts are getting around it by changing the term to the secular "Intelligent Design" or not mentioning alternatives, but just putting disclaimers out about how Evolution is "Just a Theory" as if "Theory" in scientific parlance meant just a guess, the way we might use it in casual conversation.



It's stupid, but there is a VERY thin line between separating C&S and oppressing religion. And in a Democracy, majority rules, and when the majority is all one religion, that religion will have influence. It doesn't have to be a bad thing...but it can be.

Answer 3

Religious people have as much right to influence our laws as any other group. Barring liquor sales on Sundays, while an inconvenience, is hardly equivalent to the establishment of a state religion. And, by the way, the First Amendment doesn't say anything about the "separation of church and state." The First Amendment only prohibits the establishment of a state religion, it does not bar religious people from involvement in our government.

Answer 4

We're going to bring back God and the Bible and drive the gods of secular humanism right out of the public schools of America.

--Pat Buchanan, at an anti-gay rally in Des Moines, Iowa





The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country.

-- Rev. Jerry Falwell





After the Christian majority takes control, pluralism will be seen as immoral and evil and the state will not permit anybody the right to practice evil.

--Gary Potter, president of Catholics for Christian Political Action





The Christian community has a golden opportunity to train an army of dedicated teachers who can invade the public school classrooms and use them to influence the nation for Christ.

--D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries

Answer 5

@ Bwana



Ah sorry to burst your bubble but yes the federal government does have control of schools, if the school district wants to receive federal funding (which all public schools can) they must abide by the feds regulations. Yes the exact wording "Separation of Church and State" does not appear in the Constitution but that is why the Supreme Court is here to derive meaning from those words. It does say that the "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." by teaching specifics, or doctrines of faith in a public school is considered establishing a religion. If a federally funded school teaches Creationism or any religion class they are in violation and would lose their federal funding.

Answer 6

The goal was to not have a national state religion. I was never meant to ban all religious speech in public places. It just says Congress shall not establish a religion, nothing else.

In the last 60 years we have had separation of state and sense.



I am not religious by the way, but I know what the Founding Fathers were trying to set up.

Answer 7

Politics is influence by a lot more then religion. Creating a government that operates without any outside influences is impossible.

Answer 8

Creationism should not be taught in any public school unless it is taught as part of a religious class, and even then it is questionable. Private schools and parochial schools are not under the control of the government and they may teach creationism.

Answer 9

It is not "quite apparent that Christianity rules over politics." That overreaction is followed by your "Some laws have influences...." Sloppy thinking and writing does not help your case.

Answer 10

The 'separation' issue has been and always will be that the state shall not mandate a specific religion. NOT to isolate from Christianity / God.



Anytime you're confused as to what the Constitution or Bill of Rights actually 'says', get yourself a plain old dictionary and look up each word. You will be rewarded with clarity and insight as to what the old boys meant when they wrote the documents.



Like this:

The second amendment reads: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state , the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”



Definitions of the above words are from the typical American standard dictionary, for the anti-rights liberal elite who prefer to twist things to their own ends:



Regulated: To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.



Militia: An army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers.

A military force that is not part of a regular army and is subject to call for service in an emergency. The whole body of physically fit civilians eligible by law for military service.



Necessary: Absolutely essential; Needed to achieve a certain result or effect; Required by obligation, compulsion, or convention; Something indispensable.



Security: Something that gives or assures safety, as A group or department of private guards. Measures adopted, as by a business or homeowner, to prevent a crime such as burglary or assault: Freedom from risk or danger; safety.



Free: Not imprisoned or enslaved; being at liberty; Not controlled by obligation or the will of another; Not subject to arbitrary interference by a government.



State: A specific mode of government; A body politic, especially one constituting a nation.



Right: Fitting, proper, or appropriate; Most favorable, desirable, or convenient; Conforming with or conformable to justice, law, or morality; A just or legal claim or title; According to law, morality, or justice.



People: A body of persons living in the same country under one national government; a nationality; The mass of ordinary persons; the populace; The citizens of a political unit, such as a nation or state; the electorate; A body of persons living in the same country under one national government; a nationality.



Keep: To retain possession of: To have as a supply; To maintain for use or service; To manage, tend, or have charge of.



Bear: To carry from one place to another; transport; To be accountable for; assume; To have a tolerance for.



Arms: A weapon, especially a firearm; To equip with weapons; To provide with something that strengthens or protects.



Shall: Used before a verb in the infinitive to show something, such as an order, promise, requirement, or obligation.



Not: In no way; to no degree. Used to express negation, denial, refusal, or prohibition.



Infringed: To transgress or exceed the limits of; violate; Obsolete To defeat; invalidate. To encroach on someone or something; engage in trespassing. Latin nfringere, to destroy.

Answer 11

First, you need to re-read the Constitution, because you seem to believe that religion is somehow addressed in there other than the 1st Amendment.



Other than preventing the federal government from interfering with the free practice of religion and preventing the federal government from establishing a national government-run religion, there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents schools (which are outside of the Constitution's authority) from teaching it or which prevents politicians from legislating based on their religious beliefs.



Those are the facts. Deal with it.

--

Me, let me repeat that there was never any intent in the Constitution to give the federal government any authority regarding education.



The fact is that, by any standard reading of the Constitution based on its intent, the outlay of the public treasury on education and the legislating of standards to schools is not authorized.



So while the federal government might now violate the Constitution with impunity, thanks to Progressives, it is not how it should be.



When reasonable people like you support government violation of the Constitution when it suits your agenda, we have no hope of long-term protection of our rights by that government. And we have people like you to thank.

Answer 12

Creationism is only taught in some private schools. What public school is it taught in?

Answer 13

Because they're paranoid that if they don't do what their imaginary friends Jesus and God want, they're going to be "Tortured" in this place they made up called hell.