CPT Private RallyPoint Member 7303 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Many people in our society today like to reference the concept of "separation of Church and State" when arguing against religious expression by government officials, at government ceremonies, etc.  They do so by claiming that one finds this concept in the Constitution, specifically the First Amendment.  In reality, this concept is found in no official document related to the founding of our nation.  What the First Amendment states on the matter is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".  <br><br>Allow me to put this in context for you: many of the early inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies had come to the West seeking freedom of religion (fleeing the religious persecution of Europe).  Thus, our Founders wanted to ensure that such a scenario would never come to pass in this nation.  The law was designed to keep the State out of the Church, not the other way around.  The actual phrase "separation of Church and State" came from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist association in which he <br />assured them that the government would not interfere with their ability <br />to practice their beliefs.<br><br>It's rather ironic that, whenever this phrase is used today, it is precisely with the intent of "prohibiting the free exercise" of religion.<br><br>Just a quick little lesson on this Constitution that we're all sworn to uphold and defend.<br> 2013-11-17T11:31:07-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 7303

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Many people in our society today like to reference the concept of "separation of Church and State" when arguing against religious expression by government officials, at government ceremonies, etc.  They do so by claiming that one finds this concept in the Constitution, specifically the First Amendment.  In reality, this concept is found in no official document related to the founding of our nation.  What the First Amendment states on the matter is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".  <br><br>Allow me to put this in context for you: many of the early inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies had come to the West seeking freedom of religion (fleeing the religious persecution of Europe).  Thus, our Founders wanted to ensure that such a scenario would never come to pass in this nation.  The law was designed to keep the State out of the Church, not the other way around.  The actual phrase "separation of Church and State" came from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist association in which he <br />assured them that the government would not interfere with their ability <br />to practice their beliefs.<br><br>It's rather ironic that, whenever this phrase is used today, it is precisely with the intent of "prohibiting the free exercise" of religion.<br><br>Just a quick little lesson on this Constitution that we're all sworn to uphold and defend.<br>

2013-11-17T11:31:07-05:00 2013-11-17T11:31:07-05:00 2013-11-17T11:31:07-05:00