I'm no expert, but I would say because of the history of the churches of Europe and how they held power over the people.

In Britian for instance the King got money from the CHurch so you were taxed and forced to tithe that is a lot of money, now the idea was to create a State that would allow religion to be practiced freely. Also they had debtors prisons back then so they were also trying to prevent that from happening here. There were many reasons. The Supreme Court corrupted this to mean no Church what so ever in Government the Problem is the rule of law is based on the 10 commandments and every major function in the USA starts with a prayer thus the Supreme Court legislated and trampled the US Constitution for it's own ends just like with Roe V. Wade. Roe & Doe are used as ficitional people in cases trying to establish the rule of law.

Besides the obvious roles of churches interfering in state affairs prior to this period, the separation of church and state doctrine has more to do with the tradition of liberal theory that the Constitution is based on. In this school of thought, the only legitimate form of government is one in which the maximum amount of freedoms must be given to each citizen, in accordance with their innate dignity as human beings. Because the founding fathers knew the freedom to practice any religion must be guaranteed, then it must necessarily be separated from government, lest the state should push out any religion besides the approved one.

They didn't. They just said that the US federal government could not establish a religion. The basis of that was the Anglican Church in England. The same people who voted for the 1st amendment selected a Congressional chaplain and held prayers on the floor of the House and Senate.

It is late to understand their time, but in modern times it is better if there is this separation. A government must be free to do what it must and not be tied to dogmas that don't help at all. The liberal theory in the constitution can not and should not be tied to any religion it would be a restriction.

They didn't. The Constitution only stops government from establishing a state religion, not seperating religion from functions of government. Too many secularists twist this simple fact to try and remove religion from everything.

Because in Europe the only power higher than the king was the church! The founding fathers had seen how the church controlled all and how it had spread its power through force and coercion! People were not allowed to have religious freedom, all were expected to follow the king and whatever the church said. Though in American history taught in schools they would have you believe all the founding fathers were good christian beleivers but in fact many were not christian, some were agnostic and atheist. They wanted to make sure that our government was not controlled by the church or any one religion...too bad it didn't work...maybe one day it will.

There is only the restriction about Congress establishing a religion, there is no separation. As to the reason for the restriction, example: Between (all dates are approximate)1740 and 1765/70 as Englands government occupied and ruled in Ireland the Church of England was the national church of the British Empire. Ireland, historicly was predominately Catholic. The English government in this time period enacted several laws aimed at supressing the Irish people and their religious beliefs. Note: As per the Pope, only an ordained Priest can say Mass. Per the Parliment, It was legal to be a Priest but illegal to say Mass. Time passes,law is reversed, Mass is legal, Priesthood is not. Time passes Priesthood and Mass are legal but attendance at Mass is illegal. Time passes, Nuns cannot attend Mass. Are we following the concept of the events that were occuring at the same time, 1765-70, that 13 British colonies in America are experiencing difficulties with the King and Parliment creating catch 22's across the pond from Ireland? This is the first example that comes to mind. I'm sure there are more.

That way no religious cult could rule America. America was started in the first place on people looking for religious freedom, remember.

Because when a government takes control of a church, it can portray its opponents as heretics. People, of course, rely in part on their religious, moral and ethical beliefs in making decisions about what is right and what is wrong. But the separation of church and state requires them to "sell" their argument to people who do not share their particular religious faith. In other words, by taking "my God said so" off the table as a political argument, it fosters an ethic of consensus rather than confrontation. For example, if you're a Muslim and you're pushing some aspect of your faith as a public policy goal, it makes you have to justify that in terms with which I (as a Christian) would agree.

well, the establishment clause is not an amendment itself, it reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. this means congress can make no official religion of the united states, or discriminate against any established religion. the 'seperation of church and state' has just evolved as we, the current poeple, interpret and understand it.

The Vatican held a great deal of power over Monarchs due to the people they ruled as most believed in the church doctrine. people were basicaly brainwashed to believe whatever the church taught. this created a problem for monarchs as if the king could not or would not abide by gods laws how could he be worthy of ruling them. that is why England created it's own church separate from the Vatican. To control the people without interference. That is why the first amendment exsists , you will not find the words "separation of church and state" ( Thomas Jefferson 1802) in the U.S.Constition.

You need only listen to the whinings of the modern day 76% percent of Americans who call themselves Christian, and a "persecuted minority" to understand why.

the division of church and state is probablt the most important part of our constitution. The church interferes with scientific research AND human rights. This division protects us from being burned at the stake for adultery, skepticism, medical research and vast list of other things. If the church were a part of government, as it is in other cultures, you could easily be put to death for doubting faith, you could be flogged for looking at a man, paraded naked through the streets for not obeying your husband quickly enough. When the church was powerful in government, womens health care was devastatingly poor because doctors were not allowed to view any part of a married womans body that was covered by her full length, long sleeved gown. To allow a physician to view a married womans body was adultery on her part, and was punishable by many cruel acts. Division of church and state has undoubtedly saved millions of lives through protection and medical research availability.

They didn't want an officially sanctioned church in the future. Not another Church of England in the US. Most other western nations have an officially sanctioned church. But, anymore it doesn't matter much in the west. Some of the most secular nations have them, such as Sweden, Finland and others.

i would think so it didnt cause fights amoungst people

Thomas Jefferson (and James Madison) felt it was important to keep religion and state separate. Because Jefferson believed in a creator that resembled a deity but rejected the christian superstitions, he had an obligation to take advantage of true freedom even religions oppression.

They didn't want to give any 'particular' religion control of anything educational. Because our 'founding fathers' were Pegan if anything. They believed in the earth, the land, the seas, the sun, the moon. Hence why 'witch' hangings/burnings only became real after a powerful religion such as christianity came to be popular. Now imagion that with the government, there'd be no escaping it, with an entire army behind them, we wouldn't stand a chance. If our guys didn't fight to kill us, they'd hire others to do it if we revolted against the governments beliefs. Before people were manipulated to believe silly things, manipulated and in fear of them. People got sick of it. They didn't want to believe in something someone else tells them to believe. Because 1. They were smarter back then to believe these silly fairytales. and 2. People didn't have the emotional conflicts they do today. As far as crazies go.. there really weren't that many. 3. People back then cared about 'future' generations, and believed in keeping the earth clean.. where as now (religion is trying to take over the government as well as schooling) religions are trying to tell people not to worry because Santa Claus is coming to take them to dream world any day now.. Hence promoting polution, and a big reason why the 'big guys' in the government support poluting the land and not cleaning up after they drill oil. But it wasn't just seperation of church and state, they didn't want 'any' group to have such power where it interfered with 'freedom of choice, and freedom of being'. If any group obtained as much power as they do today, it would be nothing but sheer shame. Everything our forefathers faught for gone, it pretty much is already if you look around. Massive corruption, people fear the government instead of the government fearing the people.. The world is topsy turvey. Since the 'dawn' of man, Religion and religious affairs has been the number 1 killer among humans. Because humans will die for what they believe in, if they believe strong enough. Our forefathers are probably turning over in their graves, thinking how stupid they were to give us such a land that we permit to be tainted by seniority groups with as much power as they have today. I won't lie to you, everything that they faught for. The freedoms, the dreams, just everything they faught for is pretty much gone today. They faught for a cleaner world as well hence why they wore hemp, they wrote on hemp, they smoked hemp..(hell they can even use hemp for fuel, heating and nutrition) cause its good for the environment, its not as 'poisonous' to the air as the stuff we use today which is burning a hole in our ozone and turning the air foul. Yet it can do the exact same thing, plus its renewable.. If you wanna know who tipped that one over, perhaps you should look at even a more 'powerful' group that is above religions..(which is something our forefathers would be shocked that we allowed them so much power; enough power that they illegalized marjuana which is a use-all elixer..They knew this as it can be used from ropes to plastic to even creating and running cars and other types of electronics, housing, fuel.. god just about anything you name it, it can be used for. Anyway thats why they wrote the most important document of all time on 'hemp' paper) its called the pharmacies, aka doctors. They've not released a cure in the last 80years, ontop of which they buyout every cure for every ailment claiming either it never exsisted OR it doesn't work. The constition warns of us of allowing such powers to be, weither it be religion or other.. (religions were their 'direct problem' which is why they made an entire amendment about it, they never believed we'd let such powers that be exsist today.. Or they would of added more on the groups.) So all in all, it wasn't just a belief, but a WARNING. Once such powers take hold.. even if it is the government creating a religion on which the world has to follow.. or 'suffer'. Above all of that 'we the people' are not suppose to allow such unions, because a person who fights for their country.. yeah thats cool.. but a person that fights for their 'god' its fricken brutal. Its simply too much power..

Because the peoples of the 13 colonies were so religiously diverse and many had come to this country seeking religious freedom from a number of different countries. "The New England colonists were largely Puritans, who led very strict lives. The Middle colonists were a mixture of religions, including Quakers (led by William Penn), Catholics, Lutherans, Jews, and others. The Southern colonists had a mixture of religions as well, including Baptists and Anglicans".

They didn't. They believed in keeping the Federal government from establishing on denomination as a national tax-supported Church (as in the Church of England) and leaving religious policy to the States - 4 or which continued to have their own state churches for years, and 2 others had religious tests for office-holders. Jefferson and Madison were both quite explicit that the 1st Amendment merely interdicted the Federal government, and left religious policy as the sole preserve of each individual State.