The Pros And Cons Of Separating Church And State

The separation of church and state is fast becoming a flash point for many Americans who want their opinions aired. A statement like "This country was founded on Christian principals" is constantly offered when this separation issue arises.

To adequately address this assumption that this country was founded on Christian principals you have to look at where it comes from and what it has become. When the first explorers entered this country it was a business arrangement for land and trade. Once they established a proven model of existence here, the Pligrims, Quakers and other sects of Christianity soon followed. This was done to escape religious persecution. While the intent of these people was to worship as they pleased it was not for evangelistic doctrine.

In modern times as our society has matured and the freedom of religion has become a given right there are many that wish to harken back to a time that never existed. That being a Christian based government or country. This would exclude the many other religious factions that currently enjoy our freedom of religion. Our founding fathers while espousing many Christian values were indeed not devout Christians.

If you were to decree that this country have a religious establishment as a part of the government you would lose the freedoms that this country was established on and become a theogracy much like the muslim countries with which we are currently in conflict. You will in effect lose the diversity and common grounding of our freedoms.

Our current social make up allows us to apply our religious beliefs to our interactions with others while not being overbearing in it's actions to fairly co-exist.

Religion is a personal belief and freedom. However you wish to explore it is your business. Only a few restrictions are in place to assure safe and peaceful harmony.

If you try to apply religious doctrine to governmental operations you will be trying to apply the theoretical to the practical.