Seperation From Religion.

Does Religion have a place in American society? More specifically does religion have a place in government? Should government be void of all religious interference? People who hold public offices should lay there religion, their system of beliefs, at the government's door.



This line of thinking is not practical or constitutional. The Constitution speaks directly and clearly about religion in the Establishment Clause, found in the first amendment; "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"




It would appear that the Founders’ intent when penning the Establishment Clause was by prohibiting the establishment of a state religion, such as the one they left behind in England, to protect religion from government, not government from religion. There is no place in the founding documents of the United States that indicate that our government should be completely void of and separate from religion. In fact, it appears to be a violation of the principles of the constitution to prohibit an individual to display religious decorations at his job, even if the individual is employed by the government. The Constitution clearly states that congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. To exhibit a monument of the Ten Commandments, a cross or crucifix in one’s workplace would not be a breach of the Constitution, whether one works in an insurance office or a court house. The First Amendment does not come with the qualifier, “you may prohibit someone’s free exercise of religion if they are employed by the government.” The first amendment, in fact, does not come with any qualifiers, it plainly says that the government is not to encroach on the free exercise of religion.



The first Constitution was created as a set of checks and balances for the government. To protect the people from the government, not the government from the people. The Establishment Clause is a perfect example this fact. It is impossible for an individual to violate the Constitution, beacuse the Constitution is a set of laws for the government...not the people.