Separation of Church and State?

There are many controversial issues in modern America. Few cause more heat and shed less light than the topic of "religion and public life". I have spent a lot of time thinking about the issues and have some thoughts that I hope will shed light more than produce heat.

1. The phrase, "Separation of church and state" is not found anywhere in the constitution or laws of the USA.

2. Despite this fact,I believe in the separation of a specific church denomination and the federal Government or an individual state.

3. The origin of America is Christian and all the Founders recognized that fact and wanted to keep it a Christian nation.

4. Christianity is not a church. Religion and spiritual practices are not a church.

5. I have been to Scandinavia over thirty times to teach. Norway, Sweden and Denmark have a state sponsored Lutheran Church. In all those countries it is the . Taxes pay for the training of clergy, the construction and upkeep of the buildings and all other expenses.

6. The state makes the laws that govern the church. In Sweden elections are held in the parish to elect the church council. Many atheists and anti-Christian fanatics are elected to the boards. They often assign atheists as pastors and welcome homosexual marriages.

7. Many countries have a tax supported Roman Catholic Church while others are Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. I think a tax supported, state controlled church is a terrible idea for everyone involved.

8. The USA has a Judeo-Christian philosophy and foundation but does not control the theology of the church denominations nor gives tax support to one specific denomination over another.

9. The greatest benefit of a separation of church and state is the freedom that it gives all religions from state control. The fear was never that the church would control the state but vice versa. Having religious people in a political office does not violate any law or principle of government.

10. The greatest danger is not the control of government by religion but the strong, angry opposition of secularists to all religions but especially to traditional, supernatural Christianity.