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Separation of church and state is a concept based on one interpretation of the US Constitution. It is believed 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 an interpretation of part of the [[Establishment Clause]] of the [[United States Constitution]]. The section in question reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof....".<ref>[http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmenti 1st Amendment of the US Constitution]</ref> This phrase is commonly interpreted to mean that all issues regarding the [[Government]] and those regarding the [[Church]] be kept seperate. Most people think that the founding fathers created this law due to witnessing centuries of political and religious strife in [[Europe]]. [[Thomas Jefferson]] first coined the phrase in 1801.<ref>[http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html Religion and the Federal Government], ''LOC.gov''</ref>, in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association<ref>[http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/dba_jefferson.html Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the DBA]</ref>

 

 

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].

 

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 Many proponents of a Christian America point out that the treaty was superceded by the [[Treaty of Peace and Amity]] in 1805 (although the superceding of the treaty does not change John Adams' secular view of the United States).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).