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Separation of church and state (view source)
Revision as of 22:55, June 1, 2012
, 22:55, June 1, 2012George Washington's counsel on this subject added
[[Conservative]]s have criticized the liberal interpretation as being without justification in the text or meaning of the [[First Amendment]].<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/focus/secularization.html</ref><ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g004.html</ref> In recent years the Supreme Court has shifted from a high wall of "separation" to somewhat of an "accommodation" of religion, by stressing the importance of the [[Free Exercise clause|Free Exercise Clause]].
[[Conservative]]s have criticized the liberal interpretation as being without justification in the text or meaning of the [[First Amendment]].<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/focus/secularization.html</ref><ref>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g004.html</ref> In recent years the Supreme Court has shifted from a high wall of "separation" to somewhat of an "accommodation" of religion, by stressing the importance of the [[Free Exercise clause|Free Exercise Clause]].
Since no-one can possibly speak with more authority on this subject than [[George Washington]] himself, here is what he said <ref>http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/farewell/intro.html The Papers of George Washington, Documents, The Farewell Address, page 20</ref> in the Farewell Address to the Congress and to the people of America; and his guidance deserves to be put in front of all the others‘ opinions:
''„Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politican, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the Oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure--reason & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. 'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric.“''
In contrast to official pervasive acknowledgment of God (mentioned in all 50 state constitutions</ref><ref>http://patriotpost.us/reference/50-state-constitutions-on-god/</ref>) and the place the Bible historically had in government, jurisprudence <ref>[http://www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/the-bible-and-government The Bible and Government]</ref> and in over 300 years of American education<ref>[http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/Education_in_the_United_States Education in the United_States]</ref><ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/CauseEffect.html CAUSE AND EFFECTS: THE BIBLE AND EDUCATION]</ref> and the status therein of Christian faith in 1962 when Engel v. Vitale case was decided, (when an estimated 75 percent of the school systems in the South had religious services and Bible readings<ref>Colliers 1961 Yearbook p. 224</ref>), are some see court decisions in the last 60 years which some see resulting in Christian faith being functionally supplanted by secularist ideology and the religion of non-theistic [[Secular Humanism]].<ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/humanities/neutral.html Paul G. Kussrow and Loren Vannest, ''Can Public Schools Be Religiously Neutral?''] Leadership U.</ref>
In contrast to official pervasive acknowledgment of God (mentioned in all 50 state constitutions</ref><ref>http://patriotpost.us/reference/50-state-constitutions-on-god/</ref>) and the place the Bible historically had in government, jurisprudence <ref>[http://www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/the-bible-and-government The Bible and Government]</ref> and in over 300 years of American education<ref>[http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/Education_in_the_United_States Education in the United_States]</ref><ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/CauseEffect.html CAUSE AND EFFECTS: THE BIBLE AND EDUCATION]</ref> and the status therein of Christian faith in 1962 when Engel v. Vitale case was decided, (when an estimated 75 percent of the school systems in the South had religious services and Bible readings<ref>Colliers 1961 Yearbook p. 224</ref>), are some see court decisions in the last 60 years which some see resulting in Christian faith being functionally supplanted by secularist ideology and the religion of non-theistic [[Secular Humanism]].<ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/humanities/neutral.html Paul G. Kussrow and Loren Vannest, ''Can Public Schools Be Religiously Neutral?''] Leadership U.</ref>