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== The Role of Religion in Government ==

== The Role of Religion in Government ==

Americans overwhelmingly consider the U.S. a Christian nation.  A Pew Report showed 76% of Republicans, 63% of Democrats,and 67% of independents view the U.S. a Christian nation. [[Humanism#Secular_Humanism|Secular]]s are the only subgroup in which fewer than a majority sees the U.S. as a Christian country. <ref>[http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=153#1 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life], August 24, 2006.  Retrieved June 7, 2007.</ref>  

Americans overwhelmingly consider the U.S. a [[Christianity|Christian]] nation.  A Pew Report showed 76% of Republicans, 63% of Democrats,and 67% of independents view the U.S. a Christian nation. [[Humanism#Secular_Humanism|Secular]] categories are the only subgroup in which fewer than a majority sees the U.S. as a Christian country. <ref>[http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=153#1 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life], August 24, 2006.  Retrieved June 7, 2007.</ref>  

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of a God when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted by the author,  [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were [[Deism|Deistic]].

The [[Declaration of Independence]] acknowledges the existence of a [[God]] when it refers to "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" and says all men "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  That statement was inserted by the author,  [[Thomas Jefferson]], whose religious beliefs were Deistic.

Many early Americans emigrated because of religious persecution in their home countries.  The American [[Founding Fathers]] adhered to various sects of [[Christianity]] ranging from Catholicism, Protestantism and Deism. They recognized that Judeo-Christian tradition in addition to other legal traditions should inform the Constitution.

Many early Americans emigrated because of religious persecution in their home countries.  The American Founding Fathers adhered to various sects of Christianity, including [[Catholicism]], [[Protestantism]], and [[Deism]]. They recognized that [[Judeo-Christian]] tradition in addition to other legal traditions should inform the Constitution.

Based upon these beliefs, the [[Founding Fathers]] specifically placed into the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  The first clause is referred to as the Establishment Clause, and the second the Free Exercise Clause. Even in contemporary times, citizens often mistakenly insist the First Amendment mandated separation of Church and State, which it clearly does not.  It is obvious by their writings and the documents they produced, that the Founding Fathers could not even conceptualize (let alone desire) a government without [[Christian]] principles.

Based upon these beliefs, the Founding Fathers specifically placed into the [[First Amendment]] to the U.S. Constitution a sentence which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  The first clause is referred to as the [[Establishment Clause]], and the second the [[Free Exercise Clause]]. Even in contemporary times, citizens often mistakenly insist the First Amendment mandated [[separation of church and state]], which it clearly does not.  It is obvious by the writings and the documents they produced that the Founding Fathers could not even conceptualize (let alone desire) a [[government]] without Christian principles.

This "Free Exercise Clause" of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[U.S. Constitution]] began increasingly to be tested and interpreted by the judiciary in the late 19th century as a result of the increasing population of religious minorities in the United States.

This "Free Exercise Clause" of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution began increasingly to be tested and interpreted by the judiciary in the late 19th century as a result of the increasing population of religious minorities in the country.

The [[Declaration of Independence]], [[U.S. Constitution]], the [[Federalist Papers]], and the many personal papers of the [[Founding Fathers]] have been used to examine the issue.  Different and sometimes contradicting statements have been noted regarding the influence of religion on government, and it can be difficult sometimes to interpret the importance and precedence of personal beliefs, legal intent, and actual verbiage in the documents.

The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the [[Federalist Papers]], and the many personal papers of the Founding Fathers have been used to examine the issue.  Different and sometimes contradicting statements have been noted regarding the influence of religion on government, and it can be difficult sometimes to interpret the importance and precedence of personal beliefs, legal intent, and actual verbiage in the documents.

In recent decades, the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] has used the [[Lemon Test]] as a means for determining whether or not a particular controversy causes excessive entanglement between government and religion, though in some cases has allowed religious icons (such as the Ten Commandments display in Texas <ref> http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=03-1500 </ref>). 

In recent decades, the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] has used the "[[lemon test]]" as a means for determining whether or not a particular controversy causes excessive entanglement between government and religion, though in some cases has allowed religious icons (such as [[the Ten Commandments]] display in [[Texas]].<ref> http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=03-1500 </ref>)

In America today, an individual's party affiliation is at times determined by their personal view of the relationship between religion and government.  Many other social issues, such as Abortion, Euthanasia, Freedom of Speech, and Cloning are based on an individual's religious beliefs.

In America today, an individual's party affiliation is at times determined by their personal view of the relationship between religion and government.  Many other social issues, such as [[abortion]], [[euthanasia]], [[freedom of speech]], and [[cloning]] are based on an individual's religious beliefs.

 

It is the pre-imminent importance of this issue in American Life and Culture that causes this discussion to have so prominent a place on the main page of this encyclopedia's "United States of America" entry.

==History and geography==

==History and geography==