Debates discussion

A long held debate in our nation.

What do y'all think? Is separation of church and state a good thing? Or should we change it?

Personally, I have some opinions on this topic, but I'm going to wait a minute to hear everyone else's before I dive in because I have a long rant and no time to type it haha.

LET THE DEBATE BEGIINNNNNN

I don’t think I’ve heard of this before and I’m to lazy to look it up can someone explain?

Abby wrote: "I don’t think I’ve heard of this before and I’m to lazy to look it up can someone explain?"

Lol I RELLATTTEEEE basically it's a concept that's been around for a pretty long time. It was originally mentioned in a letter from I believe Thomas Jefferson to someone else whose name I don't remember. It turned into a concept that basically said "let's separate Christian religion from policy-making in government." Keep in mind that America was a primarily Christian nation for the predominant majority of its existence. I said "turned into" because it was kinda taken out of context from Jefferson's (at least, I think it was Jefferson. It might have been Abraham Lincoln) original letter. But originally it had to do with a very specific circumstance which I do not now recall. *is also too lazy to review*

Lol thanks

One question is meaning that government shouldn’t use religion in there decision making or that Christians shouldn’t have to listen to the government?

Abby wrote: "Lol thanks

One question is meaning that government shouldn’t use religion in there decision making or that Christians shouldn’t have to listen to the government?"

Oh sorry. I wasn't clear on that lol. That government shouldn't use religion in their decision making. Christians are absolutely called to listen to the government. Romans 13:1 - Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. That in and itself gets debated QUITE often, but for these purposes, we'll let it stand haha.

The main idea from this is that the government cannot mandate a state religion. They were afraid of excesses like the church of England or the catholic church.

Austin wrote: "The main idea from this is that the government cannot mandate a state religion. They were afraid of excesses like the church of England or the catholic church."

YES THANK YOU That was the original intention...except then it got warped. XD

HALLELUJAH I DIDN'T HAVE TO RESEARCHHHHH XD

Ok thanks that makes a lot of sense.

Abby wrote: "Ok thanks that makes a lot of sense."

You're welcome!!!

It is different than freedom from religion which is not recognized by any of the founding fathers. The argument is often made that when Americans reference God in their federal or state documents, that they are breaking the separation between church and state. Though this is not the case as the state is merely paying homage to it's cultural origins, not mandating say Mormonism on the whole country.

This is very often mis understood.

Also, I'm bored so I'm now going to present my opinion:

I completely agree with separation of church and state IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM (see above for Austin's statement). It is absolutely important to give the states autonomy, especially in matters of religion.

HOWEVERRRRR

I do NOT agree with the current definition of separation of church and state for a couple of reasons:

1) America was built as a Christian country. The Founding
Fathers always intended for it to be built on the Bible, and
forsaking that foundation is not a great idea...
2) This goes along with the first point - from my point of view,
policy-makers need an absolute moral foundation in order to
make truly good policy. The Bible is that, and there is not
another foundation that can hold a candle to the truth.

For both of those reasons, I think we need to rethink this, specifically in America. Other countries can do as they see fit...but me being a patriotic statesman...liberty or death. XDDD

Austin wrote: "It is different than freedom from religion which is not recognized by any of the founding fathers. The argument is often made that when Americans reference God in their federal or state documents, ..."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Thank you. You are MUCH better at explaining this than me lol