The Separation Of Church And State - 1632 Words

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 free to practice any religion we chose thanks to our founding fathers. However the separation of church and state in many countries throughout the centuries has not always been practiced. There was a time when the Roman Catholic Church was the church and government for everyone. This monopoly of church and state affected everything it touched until the 16th century when a few brave men stood up to the church. This small group of men will be responsible for starting the Protestant Reformation. A major ch ange in how religion is seen and understood around the world. The Protestant Reformation was a major 16th century European movement aimed initially at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Its religious aspects were supplemented by ambitious political rulers who wanted to extend their power and control at the expense of the Church. The Reformation ended the unity imposed by medieval Christianity and, in the eyes of many historians, signaled the beginning ofShow 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 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 ap art 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 together, 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. EvidenceRead MoreThe Separation Of Church And State2095 Words   |  9 Pagesnation. It was clear that individuals should be allowed to make up their own minds about how they choose to worship, if they worship at all. For years the constitutionality of the separation of church and state has been debated, many people have analyzed and reanalyzed Thomas Jefferson’s famous saying â€Å"A Wall of Separation† in his letter to the Danbury Baptist. Many religious people believe that the government is slowly taking our right to freedom of religion, the reason our country was founded, away