Seperation of Church & State
Essay title: Seperation of Church & State
Our nation has been founded on many strong principles, and beliefs. Although, the most controversial question never fails to arise when the matter of separation of church and state comes up. Were both God and Christianity part of what this nation was founded on or was the basis and structure of this great nation completely separate from God and Christianity? Articles have argued over the matter of the separation of church and state being either a solid guideline or not even existing at all.
In order to get a basic understanding of what the separation of church and state really is the articles have provided the history for it. Thomas Jefferson was the originator of the phrase “The Separation of Church and State.” One article says, “That Jefferson was clearly saying that religious issues were in the various state’s area of influence and control, not his as leader of the Federal Union” However, people often interpret Jefferson’s words in the wrong way, using them as evidence by saying; even Jefferson thought the government should eliminate all religion. Thus making it very easy to twists words around and misconstrue them for ones own benefit of the argument.
Various articles point out about what America was founded upon weather it be God, and Christianity, or weather it not be founded on God or any religion at all. The first legislative action taken was a motion to open the session in prayer, the motion was opposed. Some would respond to that by saying, “what a perfect example of the separation of church and state.” Contrary to belief the delegates didn’t oppose the prayer because they didn’t want it but only because, they didn’t know which Christian clergyman to bestow such a great honor upon. However, the next morning Rev. Jacob Duche’ was appointed to open the next morning’s session in prayer. John Adams wrote that, “The Scripture electrified the Founders, and that he had never seen a greater effect upon an audience.” Following that it says Duche’s prayer was answered and Providence gave to us a sovereign and independent nation, founded upon the concept that there is a Creator who has granted to everyone created in his image the inalienable right to life and liberty”.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
The Decleration of Independence of the United States of America is as stated above. As stated previously John Adams was well aware of what the Decleration said, and he was equally aware of how the first morning session began. Several articles point out a key phrase in the Decleration of Independence which is, “that they are endowed by their Creator”. Articles both for and against the seperation of church and state aknowledge that phrase however, that is about the only thing they will agree upon.
The articles discuss how it does indeed state Creator but never once mentions God, and it is not the Constitution so therefore, it’s irellivant . Other articles address that the history of America was founded on God and the writers of our Constitution intended us to be a Nation Of Christianity and a Nation Under God. Writers of articles opposing seperation say that God may not be stated in the Constitution but time after time there are examples of how in every day Congress God is included. For example, every day, people swear to tell the truth in court on a Bible, and the 10 commandments remain outside of our courthouses. These articles also discuss how Seperation of Church and State is also never mentioned in the constitution. In fact no document has ever proposed such a concept.
Is there an actual reason for the seperation of church and state did our forefathers warn us about the dangers of mixing politics and religion church and state? Which ever side of the argument the articles are on this is also usually always brought to light. One Article states that, “In the absense of Constitutional evidence, the mere opinion of private individuals or groups that there should be an absolute seperation of church and state hardly creates a �great American principle’” (Bilson). Although another article states,that in 1773 Rev. Isacc Backus, “the