Religion and Government

Many immigrants came to the American colonies to escape religious persecution. Therefore, it was natural that the nation's founders demanded legal guarantees of reli­gious freedom. The First Amendment to the Constitution forbids the establishment of an official national religion and prohibits governmental assistance to religious groups. It also prohibits state or federal interference with religious institutions or practices.

Separation of church and state has been interpreted to mean that any institution supported by the federal government or a state government must be free from the in­fluence of religion. In many communities where Christian symbols (such as scenes de­picting the birth of Christ) once decorated public buildings, citizens have filed lawsuits claiming that the presence of these symbols on public property is unconstitutional. There have been many other arguments about exactly what violates separation of church and state. Can a state government spend public funds to bus children to parochial schools? Can parents who send their children to parochial schools receive tax credits because they are not using the public schools? These matters are often hotly de­bated in legislative bodies, courtrooms, school districts, and election campaigns.

And what about prayer in the public schools? At one time, it was common for schools to begin the school day with a prayer. But atheists (people who don't believe in any God) objected, saying that required time for prayer violated separation of church and state. The government, they said, must not support any particular religion. But, in addition, it must avoid imposing upon people the idea of religion itself, the belief that a supernatural being influences human destiny. In 1963, the Supreme Court banned compulsory prayer in public schools. After that, it was assumed that any worship in public buildings was forbidden. However, in recent years, American high school stu­dents have been allowed to organize prayer clubs just as they are allowed to form other extracurricular special-interest groups. But these prayer sessions must be voluntary, student-run, and conducted outside of class time.

Of course, religious people want their government to behave in ways that their religion considers moral. When the laws of a religion and the laws of the state contradict each other, heated arguments develop. The best example is the issue of abortion. In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court said that states could not make abortion illegal. Thus began the continuing struggle between those who are "pro-choice" (those who believe that a woman should have the legal right to end a pregnancy) and those who are "pro­-life" (those who consider it murder to abort a human fetus). At present, abortion in the early months of pregnancy is legal in the U.S. But members of the "religious right" (more conservative religious people) continue to push for a change in this Supreme Court de­cision and often demonstrate outside medical clinics that perform abortions.

Although Americans strongly believe in separation of church and state, the vast majority have always been believers in God. Therefore, although it may seem inconsistent, many official American ceremonies and documents make reference to God. Sessions of Congress and state legislatures begin with prayers. The national motto (printed on U.s. money) is "In God We Trust." The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag calls the United States "one nation under God." These examples reflect the general American attitude - that there is a God, but that people are free to believe in God or not and to worship in what­ever way they choose.

Check your comprehension.

What does separation of church and state mean? Give some examples.