SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
The
founding fathers who wrote the U.S Constitution wanted to prevent conflict
between religious groups, those conflict were common during colonization times
in the new world and in Europe. They decided that the best way to avoid
conflict was to completely separate the government affairs from religious
affairs. This principle was call Separation
of Church and State.
The
first amendment states that religious belief are a personal matter, and the
government may not interfere with people’s private beliefs.
Amendment
I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress
of grievances
This
means the government cannot force anyone to follow a religious belief, not the
government can support a specific religion. In the sixth article of the
constitution says: "no religious
Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust
under the United States". Therefore no religious practices, nor
religious symbols are permitted on government property, such as courts and
public schools.
The
guidelines seem to be simple but there might be some cases in which there is
conflict between religious practices, the first amendment and legal situations
for example:
In a
public courtroom, a judge displays the Ten Commandments, a religious document
that is important in Christian and Jewish faiths.-
A
Christian prayer is said before a football game a public school.
- A Muslim woman covers her head and face in her driving license photograph. It is hard to identify her in the photograph.
- A
man’s religion allows him to have more than one wife, which is against the law.
- Parents
from a religious group that prohibits certain medical treatments will not allow
surgery for their child even though it could save the child’s life.
- A
Native American religious ceremony requires participants to eat a local plant,
which contains an illegal drug.
- A
public school provides a separate room and time for Muslim students to pray
during the holy month of Ramada.
- Some
religious groups prohibit their member from fighting in wars. Their members
refuse to serve in the military.
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