What is the historical origin of the phrase "the separation of church and state"? Does it mean different things to different people or groups? Is it one reason we are seeing conflict on matters such as prayer in public schools and Christmas crèches on public property? Or does the conflict come about because many don't agree such a separation should exist?
The phrase is found in a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Church in which he tried to explain the First Amendment. Most liberal thinkers believe the statement is implied in the Constitution, but it does mean different things to different people. Some think a country devoid of religion is not what the Founding Fathers intended. I think we can gain insight into their intent by looking at documents like Jefferson's letter. But we will always have a tug and pull between the country's Christian majority (about 85 percent) and various minorities, as exemplified by the recent attempt to excise the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.
To take a purist position, the phrase wouldn't be in the pledge, and Christmas wouldn't be an official holiday. But you make certain workable compromises for the sake of the greater good. No one is being persecuted because "In God We Trust" is on our coins, and children aren't forced to include "under God" when they say the pledge. Realistic accommodations will always be necessary.
The number of Americans exposed to higher education has never been greater. Higher education supposedly teaches students to question, not take things on faith. At the same time, the number of people disposed not to question but rely on faith is increasing, as shown in the percentage of people who believe literally in the Bible and the virgin birth of Christ. Isn't this a contradiction?
First, although more young people are being educated through college than ever before, some do go to private religious colleges where their belief system is reinforced. Second, many people bracket out or compartmentalize their secular education from their religion. In most cases their religion doesn't conflict with their major. It might cause a problem for strict fundamentalists majoring in biology, but most fundamentalists don't major in biology. Similarly, students who don't want to consider that religions other than their own might contain true insights, won't take my world religions course. Of course many liberal religious people are perfectly comfortable with biology or comparative religions courses.
It's interesting that people can believe on the one hand in the literal truth of the Bible and on the other live in a society that takes a hard-headed, scientific viewpoint on many issues. Perhaps people see their religion as a refuge. They live in a public world when they have to and retreat to their private world when they want to.
