Seperation of Church and state never was a written law. Its implied. No where in the founding documents does it say that there must be seperation of church and state.

Madison wrote about it in his Memoriam and Remonstrance, and it was clearly an issue when the bill of rights was being created. If you read this, he states very well that seperation is good for both relgion, and govt. I assume Madison'swords on the matter are a good enough authority for you.


You can't really argue facts (Note: If you do find a document, doubtful considering others have looked and failed, then please show it to me cause it may change my opinion on some things). The first amendment allows people to have freedom to pursue or not to pursue the religion of their choice. (No arguement there?)

no argument, although the specific wording does matter if we get into specifics


It also prevents the govn't from establishing a national religion. (I'm hoping the same here.)But it does not mean that the laws of the country cannot be influenced by religious laws and ideas. (I've got the feeling the last comment was off topic)


Ah, here we have the classic basis of this debate. While Justices Rehnquist and Scalia believe what you state here, many others don't. Jefferson states in his letters to Madison that he believes that a firm "wall" should be placed between church and state. The religious clause of the 1st amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It is the first clause that we are a issue with. I take te first clause to mean(and this was Madison's intent, and Jefferson agreed) that the govt. should not favor religion. What you have to realize is that the favoring of a religion leads very onclusively, to the establishment of religion. This i not a stretch. And therefore, the Supreme Court(relying somewhat on Madison and Jefferson's writings) decided in Everson in 1947, that govt. support for religion would establish religion in general in American society, and also whatever specific religion was in the majority at the time.


It isn't clearly stated in any of the official documents, however, it was clearly the intent of the Founding Fathers to firmly seperate religion and govt.