The “separation of church and state” is a myth. It is a contrived excuse by those who seek to limit the influence of faith. Nowhere is this statement referenced in the Constitution of the United States of America. It was however used in the former Soviet Union’s Constitution. Go figure!
The perpetuation of this mythical belief has led us down a path of discrimination and alienation. Faith is portrayed as the enemy. America was established by the belief that faith and religion were necessary for good government. On July 13, 1787, the Continental Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance, which stated: “Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged.”[1] Read that again, religion should be encouraged! Even the First Amendment has been taken out of context by prejudicial opponents. The amendment prohibited the establishment of a state sponsored religion. The First Amendment provided for limited governmental influence into church affairs. Even Chief Justice William Rehnquist stated, “There is simply no historical foundation for the proposition that the Framers intended to build the ‘wall of separation’ [between church and state].”[2] President John Quincy Adams stated, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”[3]
The perpetuation of this mythical belief has led us down a path of discrimination and alienation. Faith is portrayed as the enemy. America was established by the belief that faith and religion were necessary for good government. On July 13, 1787, the Continental Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance, which stated: “Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged.”[1] Read that again, religion should be encouraged! Even the First Amendment has been taken out of context by prejudicial opponents. The amendment prohibited the establishment of a state sponsored religion. The First Amendment provided for limited governmental influence into church affairs. Even Chief Justice William Rehnquist stated, “There is simply no historical foundation for the proposition that the Framers intended to build the ‘wall of separation’ [between church and state].”[2] President John Quincy Adams stated, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”[3]
Those who continue to promote the “separation of church and state” continue to promote ignorance. Nowhere does this principle exist in the text of our founding documents. Then why do seemingly educated people tout such an argument? The sole purpose of the argument is discrimination – against Christians. Its tactics are an offense to the very founding principles of this nation – freedom without discrimination. The intent is to lessen the influence of faith upon individuals and community. When you attempt to restrict the activity of the church, you decrease the number of positive influences in a culture. Remove religion from a culture and you open the door to moral decay and collapse.
