Separation of Church and State

A school in Missouri has pulled one of the greatest works of literature out off a reading program in their school. Although it is a list of books that the students only read if they want to, the school felt that this book because they thought that it may be "an excessive entanglement of church and state." What book was this? As one can probably guess from the previous statement, it was the Bible. This really bugs me for a couple of reasons.

First of all, the Bible is one of the greatest works of literature of all times. It has influenced society and civilizations more than any other book in history and continues to have a great impact. Even if one is not a Christian and does not believe that the Bible is true, it is an important book that people should read in order to really understand the world that they live in. There are also great moral lessons that can benefit anyone who cares to read it, even those who believe in atheism.

Secondly, the "separation of church and state" is used completely out of context. Thomas Jefferson originally used the phrase in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in which he said that:

" I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. "

The "wall of separation" that he spoke of was not for the church to stay out of the government, but instead for the government not to interfere with the church. Many of the original colonists were fleeing the state established church in England and thus would not want one put in place over here in America. Therefore, as is stated in the 1st ammendment of the US Constitution, the government is restricted from establishing a state religion, thus allowing each citizen to worship as they please. The church is still allowed to influence the government, but the government should not control the church. A couple of good articles on subject can be found here and here.

The Missouri school needs to study their history a little more before making the decision to pull the Bible from its reading list. They are robbing their students of the opportunity to better themselves and their society.