Separation of Church and State and the First Amendment: A Historical Journey

Before the birth of United States no other government had been launched without the protection of an official cult. In fact, every ancient society relied upon or looked to the Divine or more often the divines for their continued existence, protection, and prosperity. Aristotle included religion among the functions of a state the Roman Emperor was called by the religious title Pontifex a title later assumed by the pope, and the Roman law attributed religious powers to the state. In his book, Head and Heart A History of Christianity in America, Gary Hart says this division of religious and state powers in a countrys founding document is the only original part of the Constitution. Some scholars even refer to this innovative concept as Americas greatest contribution to human history. So, where did this novel idea come from What are the origins of the theory that civil and sacred powers should occupy separate spheres This paper argues that the roots of the concept of separation of church and state are very ancient and still have a significant impact on Court jurisprudence in the United States to this day