Changes

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 entaglement 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>).  The first amendment is often paraphrased as "separation of Church and State"; a phrase originating in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association which assured them that their rights (nor anyone's rights) to free exercise of their religion would not be curtailed.

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 entaglement 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>).  The first amendment is often paraphrased as "separation of Church and State"; a phrase originating in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association which assured them that their rights (nor anyone's rights) to free exercise of their religion would not be curtailed.

In America today, an individual's party affiliation is often 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.

Though neither party has taken an official stance on the interpretation of the first amendment, the [[Republican Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe that religion should play a larger role in government, and the [[Democrat Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe the government should remain secular.

Though neither party has taken an official stance on the interpretation of the first amendment, the [[Republican Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe that religion should play a larger role in government, and the [[Democrat Party]] tends to attract more individuals who believe the government should remain secular.