Separation of Church & State Part One by David Barton

In recent years, right-thinking Americans have been repeatedly shocked and perplexed by unimaginable random acts of violence. The numbers of mass shootings at schools, cafeterias, subways, postal facilities, and churches, and bombings at government and private office buildings have been almost mind-boggling. And who would have imagined that an unpopular court decision in California and a victorious basketball game in Illinois would each cause widespread rioting and looting with human casualties and massive property destruction? Such events not only offend the sensibilities of normal citizens but they also serve as reminders of the unhappy fact that far too many among us no longer possess the time-honored qualities of civility and decency – far too many lack the internal restraints necessary to prevent explosive violent outbursts. Perhaps such tragic events may yet result in lasting good if they cause us to re-embrace the teachings and public policies that once produced the individual character and virtues necessary for a genuinely civilized society. Significantly, numerous Founding Fathers and early statesmen asserted that religious faith was the most important source of those civil virtues. Among those holding this view were Declaration Signers John Hancock, John Adams, Benjamin Rush, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Treat Paine, Charles Carroll, John Witherspoon, etc.; Constitution Signers George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James McHenry, Abraham Baldwin, Gouverneur Morris, William Paterson, etc.; Famous Statesmen Patrick Henry, Noah Webster, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, etc.; and many, many others. And religious faith not only produced America’s most important civil virtues but it was also a primary reason for the founding of America. As U. S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall affirmed:

One great object of the colonial charters was avowedly the propagation of the Christian faith. The same religious faith that founded America also guided her through her establishment as an independent nation. As John Adams acknowledged:

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . . . the general principles of Christianity. Leader after leader, from generation to generation, from the Framers to contemporary statesmen, reaffirmed this fact – such as when President Harry Truman openly avowed: In this great country of ours has been demonstrated the fundamental unity of Christianity and democracy.
The principles of faith were incorporated into our governing documents from the very beginning, and the positive results have been obvious. As French observer Alexis de Tocqueville reported in his famous work Democracy in America:

There is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America – and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.

America truly has been blessed with a unique form of government. Its governing documents (the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights) have brought this nation to a position unrivaled by any other over the past two centuries, and religious principles were a powerful influence in shaping each of those documents.

Yet, notwithstanding the positive influence of religious faith in forming America’s distinctive culture, it seems that the greatest influence today in sculpting the faith and values of American culture is the extraconstitutional phrase “separation of church and state.” Significantly, that now-popular phrase is found in none of our governing documents, despite the widespread modern belief to the contrary.

A conversation I once had with a U. S. Congressman (who is also an accomplished attorney) illustrates how deeply this non-constitutional phrase has been infused in our constitutional thinking. As we were discussing the importance of basic religious values and teachings to public behavior and society in general, he lamented, “We know these values are important; it’s unfortunate that we can’t do anything to promote them.”

Surprised, I queried, “Why not?”

He replied, “We just can’t.”

I persisted, “Why not?”

He answered, “Because of ‘separation of church and state.’”

I responded, “‘Separation of church and state’? What about it?”

He replied, “It’s in the Constitution – the Constitution won’t permit us to have religious values in public arenas.” I returned, “That phrase is not in the Constitution!” Forcefully he countered, “Yes it is!”

“No it’s not.”

“Yes it is.”

We went back and forth. I finally gave him a copy of the Constitution and asked, “Would you please find that phrase for me?” He replied triumphantly, “I’d be happy to!” He immediately turned to the First Amendment, read it – and became very embarrassed. He said, “I can’t believe this! In law school they always taught us that’s what the First Amendment said!” Amazed, I asked, “You’ve never read the Constitution for yourself?” He replied, “We were never required to read it in law school!” This conversation illustrates a common misconception. Many citizens believe that the phrase “separation of church and state” is language found in our governing documents; it is not. Concerning religion, the Constitution (specifically, the First Amendment to the Constitution) states only that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The words “separation,” “church,” or “state” are not found in the First Amendment, the Constitution, or in any other official founding document.