Separation of Church and State

Presently in America there are serious concerns about issues dealing with the church and state. The main issue is the separation of church and state within the United States. This separation deals predominantly with the First Amendment and how Americans respond to this amendment.

The First Amendment is of great importance to the American people because it describes freedom to express your religion. A main political issue within in the public school system deals with this Amendment. This issue is how the school can issue and enforce certain things and can t get around the separation of the church and state. We take it for granted when we pray or have religion class. In public schools people feel, the First Amendment is being violated when public officials are allowed to direct prayer. The people feel that is a violation because, in public schools you are not allowed to have prayer, bible readings, or moments of silence are prohibited according to the First Amendment.

The First Amendment many different interpretations that people are attaching to it. People took this amendment to mean that the government was not intended to be banned from assisting religion nor was it attended to be erased from public as government officials. The First Amendment s actual wording is congress shall make no law restricting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. But because of the Supreme Court s continuous citing of separation of church and state, the public s idea of the 1st Amendment has been shaped by phrases which does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. The First Amendment, when first passed, was intended to prohibit the establishment of a national religion.

When does this separation get out of hand? Well there have been many court cases dealing with the differences and many states have considered it their duty to follow the Supreme Court s example regarding religious liberty. Because of the states action towards this liberty there have been many unusual actions taken. In Alaska public schools, students were prohibited from using the word Christmas in school because it contains the word Christ. Now tell me that this isn t stupid. Where can we draw the line, when does the state have to step in on church matters. I believe the only people who can fix these issues would be Congress and we, as Americans need something to be fixed about the Chur