Who started the separation between church and state?
Asked by: Ellsworth Schmidt I | Last update: February 13, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (44 votes)
While the idea evolved, Thomas Jefferson popularized the phrase "wall of separation between Church & State" in 1802 to protect religious freedom from government interference, but Roger Williams first coined the concept with his "hedge of separation" to shield the church from the corrupting world, with both concepts influencing the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, meaning no single person "started" it, but rather key figures articulated it over time.
What is the origin of the separation of church and state?
The concept of separating church and state is often credited to the writings of English philosopher John Locke (1632–1704). Roger Williams was first in his 1636 writing of "Soul Liberty" where he coined the term "liberty of conscience". Locke would expand on this.
Where in the Bible does it say church and state should be separate?
Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 22:21 when he said, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's,” thus making a clear delineation between the “things that are Caesar's” (the government's) and the “things that are God's.” Likewise, Jesus spoke of his Kingdom not being ...
Who said the purpose of separation of church and state?
"Separation of church and state" is a metaphor paraphrased from Thomas Jefferson and used by others in discussions of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or ...
Who enacted the separation of church and state?
Thomas Jefferson sought to create a “wall of separation between Church & State,” rejecting the historical entanglement of government and religion he believed denied people a fundamental right of conscience and the right to think and decide for oneself so essential to a republic.
What Does Separation of Church and State Mean? | 5 Minute Video
Did founding fathers want separation of church and state?
Founding Fathers like Jefferson were concerned that allowing religion and religious denominations to cross over the wall and introduce beliefs and practices into the governing realm would create a polarizing environment that could make policy decisions and national leadership a difficult and contentious process.
Did Martin Luther believe in separation of church and state?
“He can neither teach nor guide it, neither kill it nor make it alive.” Other reformers sought a radical separation of church and state, a concept that Luther ultimately rejected. Others went further in defending the rights of all religious believers, even heretics and non-believers, in civic and political life.
Were the founding fathers against religion?
For some time the question of the religious faith of the Founding Fathers has generated a culture war in the United States. Scholars trained in research universities have generally argued that the majority of the Founders were religious rationalists or Unitarians.
Who advocated the separation of church and state?
Beginning in the 1840s, nativists became leading advocates for the separation of church and state because they were suspicious of the power and dogma of the Catholic Church, and they sought to separate the Church from American government.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about Christianity?
He wrote his friend Benjamin Rush, “I am a Christian, in the only sense he [Jesus] wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others;ascribing to himself every human excellence; and believing he never claimed any other.” Jefferson believed that the New Testament was written by ...
Did Jesus teach the separation of church and state?
Jesus did not teach that faith and politics should be kept entirely separate. They shouldn't. Since God is ruler over everything, our faith must inform our political beliefs and actions. The crucial question is not if faith should inform politics, but how.
What did Jesus say about religion in government?
“Jesus said to them, 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God'” (Matthew 22:21). “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
What does the constitution really say about the separation of church and state?
The First Amendment does indeed address the relationship between Church and State, but using very, very different words: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Is the U.S. Constitution based on Christianity?
The Constitution does not mention God, Jesus Christ, or Christianity. It contains the word “religion” only twice, in Article 6, which exempts government office holders from a religious test; and in the First Amendment. They did not establish Christianity as America's official religion.
How has the Supreme Court ruled on church and state?
This means that an individual can practice their religion as they choose. However, the Supreme Court has held that neutral and generally applicable laws that burden religious practices are constitutional in most cases.
What did James Madison say about the separation of church and state?
“The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.” “The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
Which president separated church and state?
Politically, Jefferson believed that the new nation required complete religious freedom and separation of church and state. Many historians note that the broad diversity of ethnicities and religions in the thirteen colonies meant that religious freedom was necessary if the union was to be successful.
Which philosopher came up with the separation of church and state?
In addition to defending religious freedom, Locke advocated a strict separation of church and state. Because liberty of conscience was an inalienable right, individuals would not grant the state any authority over spiritual matters.
What is the church state controversy?
The church-state problem developed from conflicting interpretations of the relationship between the organized church and civil government concerning the extent of their powers within each other's sphere of activity.
What did Albert Einstein say about Christianity?
Albert Einstein viewed traditional Christianity and organized religion as "childish superstitions" and "primitive legends," rejecting the concept of a personal God who rewards and punishes, but expressed deep awe for the universe's rational structure, aligning with a cosmic religious feeling often linked to Spinoza's God, a non-personal divine harmony. He described himself as an agnostic and was uncomfortable with being labeled an atheist, preferring to focus on ethical principles and the mystery of existence rather than dogma.
What did Stephen Hawking say about God?
Stephen Hawking stated that science offers better explanations for the universe's origins than religion, concluding there is no God or divine creator, and that the universe arose spontaneously from nothing according to physical laws, not divine will, seeing no need for a higher power to set things in motion. While initially suggesting God might have set the laws, he later clarified he was an atheist, believing the simplest explanation is no God and that humans invented God to explain the unexplainable, which science now addresses.
What did Benjamin Franklin say about religion?
Ben Franklin held complex, evolving religious views, embracing core deistic principles like belief in a Creator God, divine Providence, the immortality of the soul, and the importance of doing good, while rejecting organized religion's dogmas and rituals, emphasizing morality over doctrine, and seeing Jesus as a great moral teacher, not divine. He sought rational explanations, valued practical virtue, and believed religion's purpose was to foster morality and good works, often criticizing sectarian divisions and "priestcraft".
What is the unforgivable sin in Lutheranism?
In Lutheran theology, the unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which means persistently, consciously, and maliciously rejecting the Spirit's work in creating and sustaining faith in Christ, effectively hardening one's heart against God's saving grace. It's not a single act but a persistent state of unbelief, seen in attributing the Spirit's work (like Jesus' miracles) to Satan, thereby rejecting the only source of forgiveness. Anyone who still feels conviction and seeks God has not committed it, as the Holy Spirit is still working.
Why did Martin Luther not agree with the church?
Luther disagreed with the following practices of the Church: He disagreed with the Church's policy on Indulgences (paying money to the Church to obtain forgiveness for sins). Only Catholic priests were allowed to read, interpret, and teach the Bible.
What was the original reason for the separation of church and state?
A historical perspective
Williams referenced 'a high wall' between church and state to keep the 'wilderness' of the human institutions out of the affairs of religion. He strove to prevent the corruption of government from corrupting a person's freedom of conscience.