Segregation of Church and State - Essay Example

Otherwise, on the other hand, should secular rule hold itself strictly aloof from all religious questions Therefore, the church-state connection has been the focus of argument and controversies all through the past (Fraser, p. 2-6). At present, the separation of church and state1 is a predominant rule of the United States government and some other democracies.

It tries to defend religious liberty and to avert unfairness or elimination on the basis of religion. In the United States, the partition of church and state has roots in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Additionally, The amendment maintains that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. " Courts have ruled that this amendment prohibits the government from assisting an official or favored religion, or hindering with the practice of belief.

(Hamburger, p. 21-89)Furthermore, various other countries, counting Australia, France, with Japan, also back the division of church and state. Several countries, for instance, the United Kingdom, continue separation in some regions but distinguish particular religions as reputable (national) churches. Even though governmental support for one religion may engage prejudice of other faiths, it does not necessarily do so. Where a church is "established", is privileged by a ruler, the government may still bear nonconformists, as Louis XIV of France2 did until 1685.

Conversely, it may be adamant on devotion to the established church, as Louis XIV did after that year. State favor for one faith unavoidably makes the outsiders hesitant; they sniff the attitude of autocracy in each breeze. Hence, the subsequent type of composition of church and state is an absolute divorce of the two. Separation emerges out to have been the course of constitutional development in modern states since the Enlightenment of the 18th century(Hurst, p. 602-5). People have long disagreed over the extent of the separation of church and state.

For instance, many people believe that government should be entirely secular (nonreligious) and that churches should operate outside the government system. Other people believe that government should be able to fund or support some religious activities, as long as it does not favor one religion over another. Still, others believe that religion improves the moral character of citizens and should therefore be actively promoted by the government. A number of church-state issues have generated intense debate, particularly in the United States.

Such issues have included prayer in public schools, government funding for religious schools.