The relationship of religion to the U. S. Government (America, church, God)

[FlashTheCash]

The topic of this thread is:

What was the will of the American people regarding the relationship of religion to the U. S. Government, at the time they adopted the U. S. Constitution?

[FlashTheCash]

Originally Posted by FlashTheCash

The topic of this thread is:

What was the will of the American people regarding the relationship of religion to the U. S. Government, at the time they adopted the U. S. Constitution?

No civil power over religion.

[JakeDog]

Even if you are correct, I'm not sure how that can be accomplished without seperation of church and state. The minute the church influences state policy about religious issues, it necessary causes a government infringement upon some particular religon's veiwpoint.

[sean98125]

The will was that the federal government would have no power to mandate a state religion, nor could it prohibit the exercise of religion. Remember, though, that the federal constitution did not limit to power of the individuaul states to support religion. The First Amendment was a restriction only on Congress and the federal government.

As far as the people of 1787 were concerned, the First Amendment didn't place any restrictions on the sovereign states whatsoever.

[FlashTheCash]

Originally Posted by JakeDog

Even if you are correct, I'm not sure how that can be accomplished without seperation of church and state. The minute the church influences state policy about religious issues, it necessary causes a government infringement upon some particular religon's veiwpoint.

You are correct, sir. That's why the government was granted no power over religion. A religious faction's opinions regarding the nature of God cannot influence the government's position on the question, because it has no view of the issue.

[jabogitlu]

Originally Posted by FlashTheCash

No civil power over religion.

And no religious power over the civ.... oh, wait... too late...

[JakeDog]

Originally Posted by sean98125

The will was that the federal government would have no power to mandate a state religion, nor could it prohibit the exercise of religion. Remember, though, that the federal constitution did not limit to power of the individuaul states to support religion. The First Amendment was a restriction only on Congress and the federal government.

As far as the people of 1787 were concerned, the First Amendment didn't place any restrictions on the sovereign states whatsoever.

But then there was the 14th amendment. In any event- does anyone here suggest a seperation of church and state isn't a good thing?

[bigthirsty]

Originally Posted by sean98125

Remember, though, that the federal constitution did not limit to power of the individuaul states to support religion. The First Amendment was a restriction only on Congress and the federal government.

Yes it did limit the power of the individual states. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution supercedes any applicable statutory laws and sections of state constitutions.

[sean98125]

Originally Posted by bigthirsty

Yes it did limit the power of the individual states. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution supercedes any applicable statutory laws and sections of state constitutions.

It does now, but it didn't then. The establishment clause of the First Amendment wasn't applied to state and local governments until Everson v. Board of Education in 1947, and the free exercise clause wasn't applied until Cantwell v. Connecticut in 1940.

Read up on the bill of rights and incorporation.

The idea that the Constitution supercedes state laws only arose after the Civil War.

[bigthirsty]

So it only superceded it from that point forward? What changed in the First Amendment to allow it to supercede it?