SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE--OR SEPARATION OF RELIGION AND STATE??

If we would be advocates of the influence of religious ethics and morality on American democracy, we would also be advocates of the separation of church and state, synagogue and state, and mosque and state. This concept is unique in the history the world.

The phrase, "separation of church and state," contrary to popular belief, does not appear in our Constitution. Thomas Jefferson used the phrase in a letter to the Baptist ministers of Connecticut in 1800. He mentioned the First Amendment, and then affirmed the desirability of building a "wall of separation between church and state."

And we should remind ourselves that the First Amendment to our Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." And lest we forget, that same amendment guarantees free speech, a free press, the right of peaceable assembly, and the right to petition government about grievances.

It is sometimes forgotten that some American churches were more or less "established" (i.e., tax supported) until the Constitution was ratified in 1787. Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Congregationalists continued to receive tax support for a while. It was not until 1833 that Massachusetts officially abandoned Congregationalism as a more or less state religion.

But in a separation of church and state our founding fathers wanted not only freedom FOR religion but freedom FROM religion. Many of them saw religion as tyrannical and oppressive, founded on, as they would say, ignorance and superstition, which promoted bigotry.

Many of the founding fathers had historical memories of when a state church demanded religious conformity on threat of persecution. One of the most famous examples is the Roman Catholic Inquisition promulgated in Spain in 1492. Jews and Muslims could either convert, leave or be prosecuted. Thousands converted. Thousands left. But many suffered dire consequences, including torture and death.

If Christianity were our state religion, would all citizens be required to uphold the Christian creeds, observe the holy days of the Christian year, and forgo their own religion? A recent presidential candidate said he favored making the Bible our constitution. But he failed to mention which part of the Bible. Did he mean the part advocating stoning to death incorrigible children, or homosexuals, or women caught in adultery? Did he mean the part where the women are to keep silent in the church, or the part supporting slavery, or the part advocating unquestioned subservience to the state because the powers that be are thought to be ordained by God? (See Bible, Romans 13)

If Judaism were the state religion would citizens be forced to observe the Sabbath, circumcise male children, keep a kosher household, and abstain from pork and shellfish? If Catholicism were the state religion, would citizens be forced to swear fealty to the Pope, be baptized, abstain from birth control, and have sex only with the intent of producing children? If Islam were the state religion would citizens be forced to live by Shariah law, to stone women to death for adultery and to prohibit women from driving? Would citizens be forced to embrace the Five Pillars of Islam, the first of which affirms Mohammed as God's latest and final prophet, superseding Moses and Jesus?

There are numerous contemporary examples of persecution, especially of Christians, being carried out by "state religions." So, I advocate for the separation of church and state so that an "incorrect doctrine" is not treated as a heresy punishable by the state. Like Thomas Jefferson, we are advocating the use of reason as well as religion. Jefferson's words, inscribed on his Memorial in Washington, D.C., say: "Almighty God hath created the mind free...all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments...are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion." And again, Jefferson said, "the God who gave us life gave us liberty." Note that Jefferson is affirming belief in God, not the opposite.

So, in America our Bill of Rights thankfully provides for freedom FROM religion, but it also provides freedom FOR religion. Article VI of our Constitution says no religious test shall be required to hold public office. No President, Senator, Representative or Judge has to believe in God.

But on the other hand, they are very free to do so. And I hope they do, so that they have a consciousness of submitting to the judgment of a Power higher than themselves. And also, that they will seek to implement the highest religiously based morals and ethics in our body politic. And that is where religion and state come together, in the consciousness and morals and conduct of devout humans. Oliver Wendell Holmes said things went a lot better when he realized that God was God and that he was not.

Many leaders do turn out to be tyrants like Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein. As Jesus said, the Gentiles in authority love to lord it over their subjects. The subjects are to suffer FOR THEM and SERVE THEM.

But Jesus revolutionized that notion and turned it upside down. Jesus taught his disciples to serve, not to be servile, but to use one's best ability for the common good, to help, to enhance, to stand for freedom, to improve the betterment of all people, because the image of God resides in all people. And that religious concept lies at the root and heart of democracy. We are FOR religion and state rather than for an official state religion. As the Psalmist says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord," and not some maniacal tyrant.