Debunking the Myth of Separation of Church & State     4/10/1998

Constitutional scholar David Barton said,“If we don”t know the original intent of our founding fathers, we can“t properly apply the Constitution.” So, in exploring whether prayer as a form of religious expression has any place in public education, it is crucial for us to examine three things: the historical context of the Constitution, the history of the First Amendment, and the origin of the phrase“separation of church and state.”

During the Constitution Convention, states squabbled and self-interest abounded to the extent that no progress was being made. It was then that 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin stood up and said,“God governs in the affairsof men. And, if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?” Franklin acknowledged the importance of prayer to the political aspirations of a nation--not a prayer bound to a denomination, like the states already had, but a prayer that superseded the petty factions of “officially recognized establishments.”

The second thing we must examine to understand the extent of religious expression in schools is the historical text of the First Amendment. James Madison wrote the first amendment,“religion clauses,” and an earlier draft made his intentions clear: “The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established.” Madison“s first draft demonstrates that he intended to alleviate the fear that a national church, such as the Anglican church in England, would rise to official preeminence.

But, perhaps the biggest obstacle to religious expression in public schools is the separation between church and state myth-—a phrase that is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution. Rather, Thomas Jefferson coined this phrase in a letter he composed to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. It is evident from reading the letter in its entirety that Jefferson used this phrase to emphasize his commitment to keeping the government out of the church, as specified in the First Amendment.

Today, however, Jefferson”s“wall of separation” has been removed from its context. It has been invoked to separate all religious expression from public life, and that is clearly something our founding fathers did not want to see happen.

Prayer and other forms of religious expression have a place in the public arena. By denying religion“s role in society, we desecrate our Constitution and demonstrate that we do not truly understand what it is to be an American. Concerned Women for America is proud of this country”s heritage and we shall do everything we can to ensure that all of our liberties are protected.

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