Essay On Separation Of Church And State

Today, the term “separation of Church and State” or Church vs State is commonly known for the state staying away from the church's business and church/religion staying away from the state’s business. In other words, both the church and state will not be involved or influence anything upon each other. However, when the term was first being used, it was by Thomas Jefferson where he used it to keep the state and church out of each others business. This paper will explain what the separation of Church and State is, when it was created, and how it was used in the past and today.

The separation of Church and State was first used by Thomas Jefferson, January 1, 1802, in a letter to the Danbury Baptists. In article Separation of Church and State, he offered a way to lessen the fears of the Danbury, Connecticut Baptist. To do this, he told them that the “wall of separation between church and the state” had been exclusive to protect them. This was also used in the constitution where it states Congress will not make any law respecting any one religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” What this means is that the state cannot make any law that respects any religion and will have no opinion in what someone believes in.

One reason they used this term is from the video A New Adam from the PBS God in America when they say, “Control over the law stayed with the church.” This was part of the 1st amendment in the constitution. This meant that the church would not have control over the law and states. Another example is from the article God in the White House form PBS God in America, the author shows how in the past, “the religion/beliefs of the first president had been the subject of debate since