-Readings: Chapter 2 (GHSS) – The Constitution and Chapter 2 (GS)California’s Political Parties and Direct Democracy
View Debate: CHURCH AND STATE

https://vimeo.com/62476624 (Links to an external site.)

Introduction/Overview
Separation of church (religion) and state (government) is a core concept in American democracy. The ideal of avoiding an official government religion and allowing for freedom to worship has been debated since the founding of the county. This debate revisits and renews many of the classic controversies surrounding this issue.

PRIMARY DEBATE QUESTION
Does the United States have separation of church and state?

FRAMING THE DEBATE
Separation of church (religion) and state (government) is a core concept in American democracy. The ideal of avoiding an official government religion and allowing for freedom to worship has been debated since the founding of the county. This debate revisits and renews many of the classic controversies surrounding this issue.

OBASOHAN POSITION
Church and state are officially tied together in the U.S.

FALCON POSITION
Christianity is prominent culturally and socially, but it is not the official religion of the government.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that ”Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
KEY POINT
Obasohan and Falcon agree that Christianity is prominent in American society. Obasohan argues that this is because the government officially promotes it. Falcon argues that it is because millions of Americans freely choose to exercise their religion in public. What is your opinion on this question?

RELIGION OF PRESIDENTS
A few presidents have not specified specific religious beliefs, but most have.
11 Episcopalians
9 Presbyterians
4 Methodists
4 Baptists
4 Unitarians
3 Disciples of Christ
2 Dutch Reformed
2 Quakers
1 Catholic
1 Congregationalist

DEFINITION–RELIGIOUS RIGHT
Grant Wacker says the Religious Right consists of Christians that hold basic beliefs: 1) moral absolutes exist.; 2) there are no clear lines between public and private spheres; 3) government’s proper role is to cultivate virtue, not to interfere with the marketplace; 4) Americans need to operate within a framework of common Judeo-Christian traditions.

KEY POINT
Is it appropriate for Congress to support judges based on religion? If
Congressional constituents are religious people and want their representative to appoint judges with religious values, should the Congress follow the constituents in response to representative democracy or ignore their constituents to honor separation of church and state?

AMERICANS AND RELIGION
According to recent NSRI and ARIS data, Americans’ religious belief are
distributed as:
Christianity (76.5%)
Secular (13.2%)
Judaism (1.3%)
Islam (0.5%)
Buddhism (0.5%)
Agnostic (0.5%)
Atheist (0.4%)
Other (7.1%)

KEY POINT
The Christian Right is referenced and discussed several times throughout the debate. Both debaters acknowledge it as a prominent force in American politics. Is the Christian Right powerful because it is a well organized interest group or a state sanctioned religion?

CONCLUSION
The First Amendment says that ”Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . .” This statement is clear, but the prevalence and practice of religion in America has complicated the separation between church and state. WHAT DO YOU THINK?