The phrase "separation of church and state" sometimes referred to as "wall of separation between church and state", attributed to Thomas Jefferson and others, expresses an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The First Amendment reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof", while Article VI specifies that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." The phrase "separation of church and state" in this context is generally traced to an 1 January 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, addressed to the Danbury, Connecticut, Baptist Association, and published in a Massachusetts newspaper. Echoing the language of the founder of the first Baptist church in America, Roger Williams who had written in 1644 of "A hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world" Jefferson wrote, "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 & State".
However, the Court has not always interpreted the constitutional 
No where in our Constitution is there the phrase separation of church and state, nor is there a reference to the ideal that we as a nation are against public display of our religious faith.
But there are a great many references to god being the guiding force for the founding and establishment of our great nation. From the Mayflower Compact to Plymouth Rock. Are Founders openly spoke of and worship God. First building in the community was the church house, normally in the center of town. Because Godly faith was central to our daily lives. Just one look at the original buildings and proclamations of the day clearly shows a acknowledgment of god. Yes even teaching the bible in our schools.
So how did we get to this place where we no longer can acknowledgement god or the bible in public. Where we try to completely ignore the truth before us in pursuit of a lie. Where we praise the immoral and condemn the truth. Our society is decaying around us and we act as if we don’t see it, or know why. Over the next few weeks I will explore and expose the questions of our generation:
- Why did the Pilgrims come
- Their faith
- His Providence
- Our blessing
"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." Isaiah 59:2
Separation of church and state is a bedrock principle of our Constitution much like the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. In the Constitution, the founders did not simply say in so many words that there should be separation of powers and checks and balances; rather, they actually separated the powers of government among three branches and established checks and balances. Similarly, they did not merely say there should be separation of church and state; rather, they actually separated them by (1) establishing a secular government on the power of the people (not a deity), (2) saying nothing to connect that government to god(s) or religion, (3) saying nothing to give that government power over matters of god(s) or religion, and (4), indeed, saying nothing substantive about god(s) or religion at all except in a provision precluding any religious test for public office. Given the norms of the day, the founders’ avoidance of any expression in the Constitution suggesting that the government is somehow based on any religious belief was quite a remarkable and plainly intentional choice. They later buttressed this separation of government and religion with the First Amendment, which constrains the government from undertaking to establish religion or prohibit individuals from freely exercising their religions. The basic principle, thus, rests on much more than just the First Amendment.
Madison, who had a central role in drafting the Constitution and the First Amendment, confirmed that he understood them to “[s]trongly guard[] . . . the separation between Religion and Government.” Madison, Detached Memoranda (~1820). He made plain, too, that they guarded against more than just laws creating state sponsored churches or imposing a state religion. Mindful that even as new principles are proclaimed, old habits die hard and citizens and politicians could tend to entangle government and religion (e.g., “the appointment of chaplains to the two houses of Congress” and “for the army and navy” and “[r]eligious proclamations by the Executive recommending thanksgivings and fasts”), he considered the question whether these actions were “consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom” and responded: “In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the United States forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion.”
It is important to distinguish between the “public square” and “government” and between “individual” and “government” speech about religion. Separation of church and state does not, as often is complained, purge religion from the public square–far from it. The First Amendment’s “free exercise” clause assures that each individual is free to exercise and express his or her religious views–publicly as well as privately. The Amendment constrains only the government not to promote or otherwise take steps toward establishment of religion. As government can only act through the individuals comprising its ranks, when those individuals are performing their official duties (e.g., public school teachers instructing students in class), they effectively are the government and thus should conduct themselves in accordance with the First Amendment’s constraints on government. When acting in their individual capacities, they are free to exercise their religions as they please. If their right to free exercise of religion extended even to their discharge of their official responsibilities, however, the First Amendment constraints on government establishment of religion would be eviscerated. While figuring out whether someone is speaking for the government in any particular circumstance may sometimes be difficult, making the distinction is critical.
Wake Forest University recently published a short, objective Q&A primer on the current law of separation of church and state–as applied by the courts rather than as caricatured in the blogosphere. I commend it to you. http://tiny.cc/6nnnx As the paper serves to show, notwithstanding sometimes lofty rhetoric by courts and commentators about an impenetrable wall of separation, as maintained by the courts, that wall is low and leaky enough to allow various connections between government and religion. Indeed, the exceptions and nuances recognized by the courts can confuse laymen and lawyers alike, occasionally prompting some to question the principle itself, since decisions in various cases may seem contradictory (e.g., depending on the circumstances, sometimes government display of the 10 commandments is okay and sometimes not).
What a great blog
What you failed to realize in all that you said, is the simple plain truth. Yes no state sponsored religion. Separation of Church & state simply means that the government will not officially recognize any religion for the country. What it does not mean is separation from religion. That is why are founders documents stated time and time again the need for faith and prayer to the almighty. That is why they prayed at the constitution convention for guidance.
No state sponsored religion. Does not mean no mention of God at all, which is what people like you want. You will not even mention all the Christian background of our nation, and dare not teach it’s history in our schools. Sir check your world history every society that has rejected God has crumbled!
Quote:
“Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary.
“Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in full conviction that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceful spirit of Christianity.” – Daniel Webster
HJustto say thank you for this interesting article! =) Peace, Joy.
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