The Pledge Of Allegiance Essay
The Pledge of Allegiance is a recitation many United States citizens know well, so saying ‘One nation, under God’ may seem instinctive. However, this line sparks much debate, as the separation of church and state in the United States has mulled over for years. But to govern a country is to govern its people, and its people should be governed free from the bias that religion may create.
In 1947, a Supreme Court case, Everson v. Board of Education, seemed to spark the separation of church and state debate as it is known today. In 1941, New Jersey passed a law requiring public schools to provide transportation for students, however, the town of Ewing required transportation to private religious schools as well. But, the religious schools didn’t …show more content…
However, the First Amendment’s Establishment clause states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”, therefore prohibiting the government from enforcing a religion, preferring one religion over another, or stating an official religion (Establishment Clause). Although slightly outdated, a 2011 State of the First Amendment survey showed that 67% of American people believe that the First Amendment calls for the separation of church and state (First Amendment Center). In fact the term separation of church and state seems to have been first coined in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists in 1802, when he writes, “...that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State (Jefferson’s Letter To the Danbury Baptists).” So while it was never precisely stated in the Constitution, it seems even the Founding Fathers, despite their religious preferences, knew that one’s own religion should not interfere with the power to govern their people.
When asked about the separation of church and state, radio show host and conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh, regarding liberals and their views, responded, “In fact, their hatred of the
In 1947, a Supreme Court case, Everson v. Board of Education, seemed to spark the separation of church and state debate as it is known today. In 1941, New Jersey passed a law requiring public schools to provide transportation for students, however, the town of Ewing required transportation to private religious schools as well. But, the religious schools didn’t …show more content…
However, the First Amendment’s Establishment clause states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”, therefore prohibiting the government from enforcing a religion, preferring one religion over another, or stating an official religion (Establishment Clause). Although slightly outdated, a 2011 State of the First Amendment survey showed that 67% of American people believe that the First Amendment calls for the separation of church and state (First Amendment Center). In fact the term separation of church and state seems to have been first coined in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists in 1802, when he writes, “...that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State (Jefferson’s Letter To the Danbury Baptists).” So while it was never precisely stated in the Constitution, it seems even the Founding Fathers, despite their religious preferences, knew that one’s own religion should not interfere with the power to govern their people.
When asked about the separation of church and state, radio show host and conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh, regarding liberals and their views, responded, “In fact, their hatred of the