Author Description

Examining an issue that has been a matter of controversy since the founding of the United States, this volume offers a chronological survey that helps put the ongoing debate in broad historical context. The book briefly traces the earliest instances of tension between church and state within the Western tradition, from the era of Constantine to the Reformation, before moving on to the American experience and the experiences of various religious groups during the early republic and 19th century. Attention is paid to the colonial debates about the ideal relationship between faith and politics, the 18th-century trends that culminated in a constitutional settlement. This tour of the American church/state issue revisits past controversies and personalities in the hope of enlightening present-day debates. Contrary to popular belief, the Constitution does not contain the phrase "separation of church and state." The First Amendment states only that the government cannot pass laws establishing or prohibiting religious practices. What were the intentions of the Founding Fathers when it came to the relationship between faith and politics? What do those intentions mean today? Finally, the book focuses on the post-1940 era, during which church-state controversies came before the Supreme Court. In the course of the discussion, readers will learn about complex legal and theological issues and debates between the great and powerful, but also about ordinary Americans whose religious scruples led to some of the most important legal cases in U.S. history.