While I agree that no law should be passed based SOLELY on religious grounds... I have to call you on something.
The words "separation of church and state" do not appear in any of our founding documents and it is certainly not an amendment. The only thing that comes close is the 1st Amendment...
"Congress shall make no law 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 grievances."
I read this to see that the government cannot order a specific state religion. One might even be able to argue that the idea of complete seperation of church and state actually infringes upon a officals right to practice the religion of his/her choice.
The actual phrase "seperation of church and state" is credited to Thomas Jefferson in a letter to a group of Anabaptists. (Amish) A part of the letter...
""Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, 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 and state."
I read this to say the Jefferson (a very devout Christian) wanted to be clear that government will not rule religion, just as religion will not rule the government. I don't think this was ever meant to say that a person in government cannot have faith. Because to a lot of people, their faith is were they draw their principles.
Just a little background. It really bothers me when people shoot the words "seperation of church and state" and have no idea what that really means or where it came from. Whats worse is you thought it was an actual amendment to the Constitution.
The words "separation of church and state" do not appear in any of our founding documents and it is certainly not an amendment. The only thing that comes close is the 1st Amendment...
"Congress shall make no law 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 grievances."
I read this to see that the government cannot order a specific state religion. One might even be able to argue that the idea of complete seperation of church and state actually infringes upon a officals right to practice the religion of his/her choice.
The actual phrase "seperation of church and state" is credited to Thomas Jefferson in a letter to a group of Anabaptists. (Amish) A part of the letter...
""Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, 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 and state."
I read this to say the Jefferson (a very devout Christian) wanted to be clear that government will not rule religion, just as religion will not rule the government. I don't think this was ever meant to say that a person in government cannot have faith. Because to a lot of people, their faith is were they draw their principles.
Just a little background. It really bothers me when people shoot the words "seperation of church and state" and have no idea what that really means or where it came from. Whats worse is you thought it was an actual amendment to the Constitution.
OOPS I was confused about what it was but for some reason thought it was an amendment. Thanks for correcting me on it. I admit I can be a bit blonde sometimes. I use it in terms of not being told what religion you have to be, being forced to do something because it is in the bible, basically being governed by the bible.