The Lack of Separation of Church and State is an Attack on...

Let us take alarm at this first experiment on our (religious) liberties (Maddox 3). Former president James Madisons words still ring through American ears as a nation is alarmed by the governments attack on Americas religious ideals Like James Madison, the first Europeans to settle the United States came with a dream of religious freedom. After being social pariahs in their native countries, these settlers held their religious choice sacred. They left their homes, families, and lives behind to seek freedom from religious constraints put on them by their native government. They risked their lives to come to a land where government would stay out of their spiritual lives. Today, hundreds of years later, our nation has yet to make this†¦show more content†¦The first Congress of the United States, therefore, called for certain amendments to the Constitution; these amendments became the Bill of Rights (Religion in the United States). The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights (ratified December 15, 1791) specifically dealt with the separation of church and state. It states Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof#8230;(United States Constitution, First Amendment). Since the educational system became a part of the government, it too was inclined to be religiously impartial. This was no easy task as religion was still the most prominent part of culture. When the First Amendment was adopted, most of the original thirteen colonies had official established churches. With the power of the government behind them, these denominations often persecuted the members of various minority religions. Due to the actions of the established churches many people came to believe strongly in disestablishment. Since the First Amendment was often used in application to the established churches the First Amendment became synonymous with the Establishment Clause (School Pr ayer). The dispute between the minority and the established religious groups raged on in everyday life but the court settled the argument in the schoolhouse. In 1971, the trial Lemon v Kurtzman established a test to see what elements of government violate the Establishment Clause. TheShow MoreRelated A Guard on Religious Freedom Essay765 Words   |  4 Pagesfathers, few things seemed as important as the separation of church and state. The first amendment grants all Americans the freedom to subscribe to any religion they wish and promises that the government will not promote any religion above any other. 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