Separation of Church and State

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 357.

RELIGION IN THE USA

America is a highly religious country, and has been since its earliest days. Nearly every religion in the world has adherents or organized institutions in the United States. American religious institutions are large, powerful and influential in social and political life. Even Americans who are members of no established religion are likely to believe in God. About 60% of Americans are members of a church, synagogue or other religious group, though many more identify with various religions because of their birth or upbringing. About 40% of Americans attend religious services regularly, compared to only 20% in UK.

Although the first English settlers came to America in search for religious freedom, they turned out to be as intolerable to other religions as the English government was to theirs, so the newcomers who belonged to a different denomination had to establish new colonies. For instance, Pennsylvania was established by Quakers, and Maryland by Roman Catholics. The first colony founded on the principle of state neutrality in matters of faith was Rhode Island, established by Roger Williams, who fled from religious oppression in Massachusetts.

Early in their history, Americans rejected the concept of the established or government-favored religion that had dominated. Thus, separation of church and state is a key concept in American government and culture. Separation of church and state was ordained by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides in part that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof....”.