Myths & Misunderstandings About the Separation of Church and State
When discussing the separation of church and state, it becomes clear that there is a lot of misinformation, misunderstandings, and myths floating around. It simply isn't possible to have a reasonable understanding about the nature of how religion and government should interact when people do not have all of the facts - or, even worse, when what they think are facts turn out to simply be errors.
Myths About Church / State Separation & Hostility To Religion, Religious Belief
Some of the most popular myths about church / state separation and efforts to keep civil government secular are based on the belief that this is all evidence of hostility to religion. According to many Christian Nationalists, people want to separate church & state because they hate religion or Christianity and any state that is neutral in religious matters is necessarily hostile to religion. None of these myths make any sense when subjected to careful scrutiny.
Some of the most popular myths about church / state separation and efforts to keep civil government secular are based on the belief that this is all evidence of hostility to religion. According to many Christian Nationalists, people want to separate church & state because they hate religion or Christianity and any state that is neutral in religious matters is necessarily hostile to religion. None of these myths make any sense when subjected to careful scrutiny.
There was prayer and Bible reading in all schools before 1962
This is simply not true, and that may be why we don't hear this claim too often. At the time of the Engel and Schempp decisions, prayers and Bible readings were still common in Northeastern and Southern states, but some Western and Midwestern states had already begun to force an end to them.
This is simply not true, and that may be why we don't hear this claim too often. At the time of the Engel and Schempp decisions, prayers and Bible readings were still common in Northeastern and Southern states, but some Western and Midwestern states had already begun to force an end to them.
Students should be allowed to pray in school
That's right, students should be allowed to pray in school - and they are! Some people act and argue as though students were not permitted to pray in school, but there is no truth to this. At best, they are confusing the difference between official, state-sponsored, state-mandated prayers led by school officials and personal, private prayers initiated and said by the student.
That's right, students should be allowed to pray in school - and they are! Some people act and argue as though students were not permitted to pray in school, but there is no truth to this. At best, they are confusing the difference between official, state-sponsored, state-mandated prayers led by school officials and personal, private prayers initiated and said by the student.
God was expelled from the public schools in 1962
According to this myth, God was kicked out of schools back in the 1960s - since then, every social ill has gotten worse and the reason for that can be found precisely at the moment when God was expelled. Unfortunately, it's false.
According to this myth, God was kicked out of schools back in the 1960s - since then, every social ill has gotten worse and the reason for that can be found precisely at the moment when God was expelled. Unfortunately, it's false.
After prayer was removed from schools, performance declined...
The purpose of this argument it to try and claim that various social ills like crime, drug abuse, and teen pregnancy are all due to the fact that prayer and Bible reading have been removed. If only they had been kept, so the argument goes, then society would be much better off today.
The purpose of this argument it to try and claim that various social ills like crime, drug abuse, and teen pregnancy are all due to the fact that prayer and Bible reading have been removed. If only they had been kept, so the argument goes, then society would be much better off today.
Every year we have a "National Day of Prayer," so we are religious...
Every year sees the arrival of, once again, state-sanctioned and state-encouraged praying in the form of a "National Day of Prayer" (NDP). This official recognition of prayer was first established back in 1952, around the time that "under God" was inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" was adopted as the National Motto.
Every year sees the arrival of, once again, state-sanctioned and state-encouraged praying in the form of a "National Day of Prayer" (NDP). This official recognition of prayer was first established back in 1952, around the time that "under God" was inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" was adopted as the National Motto.
Government chaplains prove that there is no church/state separation
It is true that public money pays for chaplains in the Congress and in our military. However, does this demonstrate that the principle of church / state separation is invalid, or does it instead prove that this principle has not yet been achieved? Opponents to separation act as if the former implication is obviously correct, but they do not make a good case...
It is true that public money pays for chaplains in the Congress and in our military. However, does this demonstrate that the principle of church / state separation is invalid, or does it instead prove that this principle has not yet been achieved? Opponents to separation act as if the former implication is obviously correct, but they do not make a good case...
Our national motto is "In God We Trust," so we are a Christian Nation
It is true that the phrase "In God We Trust" appears on American money and also serves as the National Motto. Is this an indication that the principle of separation is invalid and that the United State is a religious or even a Christian nation? Or is it, rather, an indication that imperfect humans have thus far failed to completely implement such separation?
It is true that the phrase "In God We Trust" appears on American money and also serves as the National Motto. Is this an indication that the principle of separation is invalid and that the United State is a religious or even a Christian nation? Or is it, rather, an indication that imperfect humans have thus far failed to completely implement such separation?
Presidents have given proclamations calling on days of thanksgiving...
It is true that presidents have, at various times, called upon the nation to observe days of thanksgiving, fasting and/or prayer. Is this an indication that these men did not believe in the separation of church and state and that the principle of separation is invalid? Or is it, rather, an indication that imperfect humans have thus far failed to completely implement such separation?
It is true that presidents have, at various times, called upon the nation to observe days of thanksgiving, fasting and/or prayer. Is this an indication that these men did not believe in the separation of church and state and that the principle of separation is invalid? Or is it, rather, an indication that imperfect humans have thus far failed to completely implement such separation?
The Northwest Ordinance provides for the support of Christianity
Sometimes, in an effort to find early American documents which support the idea that the authors of the Constitution did not really mean to separate church and state, accommodationists will point to the Northwest Ordinance. According to this myth, the Northwest Ordinance provided for the public funding of religion...
Sometimes, in an effort to find early American documents which support the idea that the authors of the Constitution did not really mean to separate church and state, accommodationists will point to the Northwest Ordinance. According to this myth, the Northwest Ordinance provided for the public funding of religion...
The Supreme Court has declared that Secular Humanism is a religion
Along with the above claim it is sometimes also argued that Secular Humanism has become an "established" religion in our public schools. Secular Humanism has, like Madalyn Murray O'Hair, become one of the Religious Right's favorite boogeymen: all manner of social evils are attributed to them as if it were hoped that, by eliminating them, society would achieve perfection.
Along with the above claim it is sometimes also argued that Secular Humanism has become an "established" religion in our public schools. Secular Humanism has, like Madalyn Murray O'Hair, become one of the Religious Right's favorite boogeymen: all manner of social evils are attributed to them as if it were hoped that, by eliminating them, society would achieve perfection.
This "separation of church and state" is anti-religion
This argument is a common strategy among those who want to appear to support the right to the freedom of religion. They correctly point out that the government cannot be hostile to religion, but by twisting things around they make it seem as though attempts by the government to remain detached from religious issues is a form of hostility.
This argument is a common strategy among those who want to appear to support the right to the freedom of religion. They correctly point out that the government cannot be hostile to religion, but by twisting things around they make it seem as though attempts by the government to remain detached from religious issues is a form of hostility.
The "separation of church and state" is unbiblical
. Response: Sometimes, a person might try to argue that there is no Christian basis for believing that church and state should be separated. The purposing of making such an argument appears to be to convince people to reject the notion of separation on religious grounds - if it is not biblical, then it is not Christian...
. Response: Sometimes, a person might try to argue that there is no Christian basis for believing that church and state should be separated. The purposing of making such an argument appears to be to convince people to reject the notion of separation on religious grounds - if it is not biblical, then it is not Christian...
This "separation of church and state" is a communist plot
Arguing that the concept of a "separation of church and state" is an attempt by communists to control the United States used to be more common during the Cold War, but it still gets trotted out occasionally. Addressing it helps because doing so explains just where the concept did come from and why it really is important to American history.
Arguing that the concept of a "separation of church and state" is an attempt by communists to control the United States used to be more common during the Cold War, but it still gets trotted out occasionally. Addressing it helps because doing so explains just where the concept did come from and why it really is important to American history.
The 1st Amendment only prohibits state interference with chruches
This myth argues that there is a "wall of separation" between church and state, but that this wall only works "one way." It prevents the state from interfering with churches and telling them what they may or may not teach, but it does not prevent churches or other religious organizations from using the state to enforce their particular religious dogmas and beliefs.
This myth argues that there is a "wall of separation" between church and state, but that this wall only works "one way." It prevents the state from interfering with churches and telling them what they may or may not teach, but it does not prevent churches or other religious organizations from using the state to enforce their particular religious dogmas and beliefs.
The First Amendment only applies to the Federal Government
This is a particularly sad misunderstanding, because it relies upon an ignorance - deliberate or accidental - of large portions of our legal and political history. It is true that, when it was originally ratified, the First Amendment only restricted the actions of the Federal Government. State governments were free to ignore it - and many did...
This is a particularly sad misunderstanding, because it relies upon an ignorance - deliberate or accidental - of large portions of our legal and political history. It is true that, when it was originally ratified, the First Amendment only restricted the actions of the Federal Government. State governments were free to ignore it - and many did...
Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists is not important
Although the idea of a "wall of separation" originated with Roger Williams and not Thomas Jefferson, it is Jefferson's phrasing which has been most used by judges, lawyers and politicians when it comes to interpreting the First Amendment. This is unsurprising because of Jefferson's role in the development of our nation and our political system.
Although the idea of a "wall of separation" originated with Roger Williams and not Thomas Jefferson, it is Jefferson's phrasing which has been most used by judges, lawyers and politicians when it comes to interpreting the First Amendment. This is unsurprising because of Jefferson's role in the development of our nation and our political system.
The Constitution and the Sundays Excepted Claus
Another common point of contention in the debate over whether or not the Constitution is reflects particularly Christian concerns and exists to reinforce Christian principles is the meaning of Article I, section 7 of the Constitution.
Another common point of contention in the debate over whether or not the Constitution is reflects particularly Christian concerns and exists to reinforce Christian principles is the meaning of Article I, section 7 of the Constitution.
The Constitution refers to Christianity and Jesus
One common argument in favor of the separation of church and state is that the Constitution, which is the founding legal document of this nation, makes no reference to religion except in terms which would exclude it from government authority, and certainly makes no reference to Christianity.
One common argument in favor of the separation of church and state is that the Constitution, which is the founding legal document of this nation, makes no reference to religion except in terms which would exclude it from government authority, and certainly makes no reference to Christianity.
Madalyn Murray O’Hair and School Prayer Myth: Did an Atheist Get Bibles & Prayer Banned in Schools?
An outspoken atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair has long been an object of hatred and fear for the Religious Right. It is thus not surprising that they placed the blame on her alone for the elimination of state-sponsored prayers and Bible readings in public schools. O'Hair herself certainly didn't do anything to disabuse people of that notion, and in fact often encouraged it.
An outspoken atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair has long been an object of hatred and fear for the Religious Right. It is thus not surprising that they placed the blame on her alone for the elimination of state-sponsored prayers and Bible readings in public schools. O'Hair herself certainly didn't do anything to disabuse people of that notion, and in fact often encouraged it.
Declaration of Independence & Christianity Myth: Does the Declaration of Independence Support Christianity?
Many have argued against the separation of church and state by pointing to the Declaration of Independence. They believe that the text of this document supports the position that the United States was founded upon religious, if not Christian, principles, and therefore church and state must remain intertwined in order for this nation to continue properly.
Many have argued against the separation of church and state by pointing to the Declaration of Independence. They believe that the text of this document supports the position that the United States was founded upon religious, if not Christian, principles, and therefore church and state must remain intertwined in order for this nation to continue properly.
Freedom From Religion vs. Freedom of Religion Myth: You Have Freedom Of, not Freedom From Religion?
This claim is common, but it rests on a misunderstanding of what real freedom of religion entails. The most important thing to remember is that freedom of religion, if it is going to apply to everyone, also requires freedom from religion. Why is that? You do not truly have the freedom to practice your religious beliefs if you are also required to adhere to any of the religious beliefs or rules of other religions.
This claim is common, but it rests on a misunderstanding of what real freedom of religion entails. The most important thing to remember is that freedom of religion, if it is going to apply to everyone, also requires freedom from religion. Why is that? You do not truly have the freedom to practice your religious beliefs if you are also required to adhere to any of the religious beliefs or rules of other religions.
Establishment of a National Church: Does the First Amendment Only Prohibit a National Church?
This myth relies on one of two misunderstandings. The first is that the First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty is only about preventing the government from setting up some particular church to which all must belong. The second is that the First Amendment does not prohibit 'multiple establishments' - showing equal preference for many different religions or denominations.
This myth relies on one of two misunderstandings. The first is that the First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty is only about preventing the government from setting up some particular church to which all must belong. The second is that the First Amendment does not prohibit 'multiple establishments' - showing equal preference for many different religions or denominations.
Church / State Separation: Myths and Misconceptions
When discussing the separation of church and state, it becomes clear that there is a lot of misinformation, misunderstandings, and myths floating around. It simply isn't possible to have a reasonable understanding about the nature of how religion and government should interact when people do not have all of the facts - or, even worse, when what they think are facts turn out to simply be errors.
When discussing the separation of church and state, it becomes clear that there is a lot of misinformation, misunderstandings, and myths floating around. It simply isn't possible to have a reasonable understanding about the nature of how religion and government should interact when people do not have all of the facts - or, even worse, when what they think are facts turn out to simply be errors.
Separation of Church and State: Is it in the Constitution?
It is true that the phrase ‘separation of church and state‘ does not actually appear anywhere in the Constitution. There is a problem, however, in that some people draw incorrect conclusions from this fact. The absence of this phrase does not mean that it is an invalid concept or that it cannot be used as a legal or judicial principle.
It is true that the phrase ‘separation of church and state‘ does not actually appear anywhere in the Constitution. There is a problem, however, in that some people draw incorrect conclusions from this fact. The absence of this phrase does not mean that it is an invalid concept or that it cannot be used as a legal or judicial principle.
Pledge of Allegiance & God: Linking Patriotism with Piety
Because of the words "under God," many regard the Pledge of Allegiance not simply as an expression of patriotism, but also as an expression of religious piety. Furthermore, it has been used by many as evidence that this is a religious nation; not simply in the sense that most people are religious, but rather than the government itself is founded upon religious (typically Christian) principles.
Because of the words "under God," many regard the Pledge of Allegiance not simply as an expression of patriotism, but also as an expression of religious piety. Furthermore, it has been used by many as evidence that this is a religious nation; not simply in the sense that most people are religious, but rather than the government itself is founded upon religious (typically Christian) principles.
More Myths and Misconceptions
Here are myths and errors which come up from time to time - some more often than others, but all relevant and worth understanding. If you come across any misunderstandings about the separation of church and state and the relationship between government and religion which you think merit inclusion here, be sure to let me know.
Here are myths and errors which come up from time to time - some more often than others, but all relevant and worth understanding. If you come across any misunderstandings about the separation of church and state and the relationship between government and religion which you think merit inclusion here, be sure to let me know.