REASON FOR THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
The religious right seems to be totally impervious to the reality of American History. The concept of the separation of church and state was not implemented by anti-religionists, but rather by Christians themselves.
The reason is very simple. The founding fathers realized that only by excluding religion from statecraft could they ever get past the disunity of their Europeon background. Europe is made up of a variety of Christian state churches who all hate each others guts and who have been constantly murdering each other for the past 1500 years.
Even simple prayer in school causes severe problems. The Puritans left England because they were forced to use the Book of common prayer. They didn't pray that way.
So how are children supposed to pray in school? With bowed head, Christian style? On their hands and knees Moslem style? Genuflecting Jewish style? Meditating buddhist style?
As soon as you allow religion into the mix, you have nothing but dissension and ultimately civil war.
Even you dictate that everyone must be a christian. Which Christianity do they practice? Evangelism? Lutheranism? Catholicism? Methodism? Greek Orthodox? To name just a few. And deep down, they may "love" Jesus, but they HATE each others guts. Only their little sect will get into Heaven and everyone else burns in Hell.
So its important to remember that the people who developed the separation of Church and State were mostly Christians themselves, but they realized that the state can not succeed if it involves itself with religion.
First draft, 6/23/05.
The reason is very simple. The founding fathers realized that only by excluding religion from statecraft could they ever get past the disunity of their Europeon background. Europe is made up of a variety of Christian state churches who all hate each others guts and who have been constantly murdering each other for the past 1500 years.
Even simple prayer in school causes severe problems. The Puritans left England because they were forced to use the Book of common prayer. They didn't pray that way.
So how are children supposed to pray in school? With bowed head, Christian style? On their hands and knees Moslem style? Genuflecting Jewish style? Meditating buddhist style?
As soon as you allow religion into the mix, you have nothing but dissension and ultimately civil war.
Even you dictate that everyone must be a christian. Which Christianity do they practice? Evangelism? Lutheranism? Catholicism? Methodism? Greek Orthodox? To name just a few. And deep down, they may "love" Jesus, but they HATE each others guts. Only their little sect will get into Heaven and everyone else burns in Hell.
So its important to remember that the people who developed the separation of Church and State were mostly Christians themselves, but they realized that the state can not succeed if it involves itself with religion.
First draft, 6/23/05.
posted by Jack W. Orf | 12:53 PM
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