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The Religious Right is correct when they point out that the phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in the Constitution. But they neglect to point out that, while the Declaration of Independence speaks of a “creator” or of “nature’s God”, the Constitution of the United States deliberately never uses the word “God” (even in the generic “deist” form).
“No religious test...” means that no one can be barred from Government office because of their religious beliefs...or the lack thereof.
While religious people are not barred from Government office, the “disestablishment clause” of the First Amendment bars Government from doing business as a religion, seeking to promote or demote any particular religion or religious opinion.
Unlike every Nation or Government before it, the United States of America was founded in the name of “We the People”...not in the name of any God or religion.
Didn’t Jesus say “My kingdom is not of this world” and “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and render to God what is God’s”?
Religion and Government can learn from (inform) one another. As both are social phenomena, they will inevitably influence one another. But they can and must be separate in their spheres of influence.
Woodrow Wilson said the “Government is nothing but organized force.”
Religion is also a power: the power of faith, belief, vision, mission, etc. But not a military or police power.
Lord Acton said that “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Whenever the religious powers have been combined with Government power, religions have used the military and police power of the Government to oppress and kill “unbelievers” and those who believed in “other gods”.
To give religious significance to any nation, man, party (or denomination), law or statute is idolatry.
Religion can inform and guide us in how we conduct Governmental policies and activities and how we make law and the kinds of laws we make...but religion cannot make laws for Government (that’s theocracy) nor can Government make laws for religion (the “disestablishment clause”).
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Neither the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution enumerate all the rights of man . One of the rights not enumerated but very important to the Founders was the “right of conscience” . Part of what the disestablishment clause means is that the Government has no right to prescribe what any person shall or shall not believe.
The Founders sought to avoid the religious wars, purges and Inquisitions that had plagued Europe for centuries.
So long as Government does not interfere with one’s “free exercise” of religion, a religious person should obey Government authorities.
Governments should not support religions (other than to leave them alone so long as they do not endanger public safety) and religions should not support governments. If Government chooses to support religions in general, it must remain fair and even-handed.
For the Government to support a particular religion (church or denomination) is to play favorites, and to cease to be fair and even-handed.
For religion to support a particular Government (or nation or party) is to play favorites, and to promote a god besides God.
If a religion says it obeys a God or faith for all mankind, then it cannot play favorites. Let them praise good deeds and condemn evil deeds, but they must refrain from identifying themselves with any nation, government, political party or politician.
God is not a Republican, nor a Democrat, nor an Independent. God is also not an American, European, or Russian. God is not a Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Jew or Hindu. “God is no respecter of men.” He treats all alike. “He makes the sun to shine on all and the rain to fall on all, the just and the unjust.”
Like political parties, religions tend to be exclusivist (in spite of the “big tent” rhetoric). Political parties can sometimes rise above partisanship; religions almost never can.
Jefferson believed that other people’s belief in “one god or 20 gods...neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket” and therefore was not any business of government.
While Jefferson objected to many of the policies of the Adams administration, he never suggested that Adams should be barred from public office.
Govt makes laws to regulate commerce and behavior. But if it makes laws to regulate opinion or belief, it has overstepped its authority.
Religions typically seek to regulate both belief and behavior. However, it is presumed that religions promote “good deeds” and therefore should be tolerated by governments.
Some believe that governments can support religions as long as they do so fairly and even-handedly and don’t play favorites. Others believe that if religions cannot maintain themselves without government support, they should be allowed to fail.
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