NationStates Jolt Archive

You know, everyone keeps talking about this almighty separation of church and state, but you know what, I looked over the Constitution, and guess what?
It is not there!
Could someone please enlighten me as to where this thing is?

Just like the gun thread: from the Supreme Court.

Look up the Lemon Test, for one.

The 1st Amendment says that the government shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion. Basically, the Supreme Court is making atheism the established religion for the United States.

Except atheism isn't a religion so much as a non-systematic belief.

You know, everyone keeps talking about this almighty separation of church and state, but you know what, I looked over the Constitution, and guess what?
It is not there!

Please don't tell anyone. If Congress gets it's hands on this there'll be hell to pay.

"All of America, you must now be Christian! Mwaha! Mwaha! Mwahahahaha!"

This (http://members.tripod.com/~candst/tnppage/tnpidx.htm) website gives a pretty thorough overview of the issue. It'll answer your question.

You know, everyone keeps talking about this almighty separation of church and state, but you know what, I looked over the Constitution, and guess what?
It is not there!
Could someone please enlighten me as to where this thing is?

<sigh>

There is currently a whole thread about this.

First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

The Supreme Court long ago explained this far better than I ever could.

Everson v. Board of Education (http://laws.findlaw.com/us/330/1.html ), 330 US 1 (1947):

The 'establishment of religion' clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever from they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation between Church and State.' Reynolds v. United States, supra, 98 U.S. at page 164.

You might also look at:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9037327&postcount=39
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9037876&postcount=82
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9038019&postcount=94

Here (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment01/) is some serious detail.