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Separation of church and state is a concept that has little or no basis in the constitution. Even so, it is beleived by many to be in the [[First Ammendment]]. This myth has it's origin in the phrase: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." As you can see, "seperation of church and state" is a very loose interpretation indeed!

Separation of church and state is a concept that has little or no basis in the constitution. Even so, it is beleived by many to be in the [[First Ammendment]]. This myth has it's origin in the phrase: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." As you can see, "seperation of church and state" is a very loose interpretation indeed!

A belief that there should be no official national religion in the United States. Seeing the results of centuries of religious strife in then-officially Christian Europe, the Founders chose to prohibit congress from prohibiting, or even passing law about any particular faith.  

A belief that there should be no official national religion in the United States. Seeing the results of centuries of religious strife in then-officially Christian Europe, the Founders chose to prohibit congress from prohibiting, or even passing law about any particular faith.  

[[Thomas Jefferson]] coined the phrase "Wall of separation between Church and State" in his Letter to the Danbury Baptists [insert reference].  

[[Thomas Jefferson]] coined the phrase "Wall of separation between Church and State" in his Letter to the Danbury Baptists [insert reference].  

The [[Treaty of Tripoli]], drafted during Washington's presidency and ratified by John Adams, states that "The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."<ref>[http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11.] Ratified in 1796 and again in 1797.</ref> Many proponents of a Christian America point out that the treaty was superceded by the [[Treaty of Peace and Amity]] in 1805 (although the superceding of the treaty does not change John Adams' secular view of the United States).  

The [[Treaty of Tripoli]], drafted during Washington's presidency and ratified by John Adams, states that "The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."<ref>[http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11.] Ratified in 1796 and again in 1797.</ref> Many proponents of a Christian America point out that the treaty was superceded by the [[Treaty of Peace and Amity]] in 1805 (although the superceding of the treaty does not change John Adams' secular view of the United States).  

The evidence that the reference to the Creator in the [[Declaration of Independence]] may equally refer to the [[Deist]] God rather than the Christian God is often ignored.  

The evidence that the reference to the Creator in the [[Declaration of Independence]] may equally refer to the [[Deist]] God rather than the Christian God is often ignored.  

== References ==

== References ==

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