THE SEPARATION OF MORALITY AND STATE
February 10 marks the anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that put legal teeth to the phrase “separation of church and state.” Since that time in 1947, religion and religious precepts have been systematically removed from government’s activities and deliberations. In Everson vs. Board of Education, the opinion of the court was that, “Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa.” This decision has since resulted in the abrogation of all manner of religious activities and materials from the public domain. Among the most symbolic of these actions has been the forced removal of crosses and postings of the Ten Commandments from numerous public buildings and lands across our nation. Yet, somehow, the use of religious materials and symbols remains conspicuous in our nation’s capital complex.
Ironically, carved on the U.S. Supreme Court building is a depiction of Moses holding stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Inside the building, carved into the large wooden doors that lead to the courtroom are two more depictions of the stone tablets. And finally, inside the courtroom, on the wall behind the judges is another large carving of Moses holding the Ten Commandments. Yet, if asked today, whether the basic moral precepts found in the Bible serve as an important foundation of U.S.
Was it really the intention of the men who formulated the First Amendment to keep religion and religious teaching out of government? Let’s examine some evidence. The first Bible printed in America United States United States
For much of the 1800’s, the capital building was utilized for worship services. As many as four different Christian groups used the building to hold regular services during that time. Thomas Jefferson attended worship services in the capital building throughout the eight years of his presidency, and he summoned the Marine Corps band to play at many services. By 1857, approximately 2,000 people per week attended services in the hall of the House of Representatives. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson provided federal funds for the purpose of evangelizing the Indians, and for the building of a church for those who would be converted.
These are not isolated incidences--space does not allow exposition of the innumerable similar acts combining religion with official government actions. As late as 1956, the U.S. Congress passed a law that declared “In God We Trust” to be the official government motto and ordered it to appear on U.S.
The doctrine of separation of church and state, as it is used and misused today, is a modern invention that would be vehemently denounced by the vast majority of the framers of our nation’s Constitution and its amendments. Rather than wishing to keep religion and religious principles out of the affairs of government, the opposite was true. In the words of George Washington, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.”
