Search

A recent internal survey conducted by Lifeway Research, the research arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, revealed mixed results on the topic of separation between church and state. While the majority of Southern Baptists support religious liberty for all Americans and a government that does not favor any specific religion, a significant minority believe that Christianity deserves special privileges due to its influence on the founding of the United States. Additionally, many Southern Baptists believe in encouraging legislation that promotes Christian beliefs and practices, and support the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The survey also highlighted a need for more education about historical Baptist champions of church-state separation and an opportunity for dialogue on the topic. [Extracted from the article]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill allowing chaplains to serve as counselors in public schools, but he has specified that certain religious groups, including the Satanic Temple, cannot participate. The Satanic Temple, a nontheistic religious group that advocates for the separation of church and state, has expressed interest in joining the Florida school chaplaincy program. However, DeSantis has stated that the Satanic Temple does not qualify as a religion and will not be allowed to participate. The Satanic Temple has legal recognition as a religious group by the Internal Revenue Service and has the right to display its symbols in public spaces and establish after-school clubs in districts where other religious groups have access. The group argues that if benefits are extended to one religious group, they must be extended to all under the First Amendment. Americans United, an organization advocating for the separation of church and state, has criticized DeSantis' stance and warned that discriminating against the Satanic Temple or any other religious group could lead to legal consequences. They argue that having chaplains of any faith in public schools would violate students' and families' religious freedom rights. [Extracted from the article]

A recent poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Brookings Institution reveals a concerning trend of increasing support for political violence in America, particularly among those with conservative religious beliefs. The poll found that 23% of Americans agree with the idea that violence may be necessary to save the country, up from 15% in 2021. White evangelical Protestants were found to be the religious group most supportive of this idea. The poll also found that belief in conspiracy theories, such as the stolen election theory and the Great Replacement Theory, is correlated with support for political violence. Additionally, a significant number of Americans, including white evangelical Protestants, accept QAnon beliefs. These findings highlight the challenges of finding common ground and moving the country forward when a portion of the population holds extreme and divisive views. [Extracted from the article]

Americans United staff members and chapter activists have been actively promoting the separation of church and state and the work of Americans United through a series of public events. These events have included speeches, panel discussions, and educational sessions on topics such as Christian nationalism, church-state separation, and the battle for American democracy. The events have been held in various locations across the United States and have been sponsored by a range of organizations, including religious and secular groups. The staff members have also participated in virtual events and conferences to distribute materials and engage with supporters. [Extracted from the article]

We've got answers: Americans have plenty of questions about separation of church and state. B I Question: i b B I Did all states have official prayer and Bible reading in public schools prior to the 1962 and 1963 U.S. Supreme Court rulings declaring such practices unconstitutional? i b B Answer: b Since its founding in 1947, Americans United has made it clear that separation of church and state is the linchpin of many of our rights, not just religious freedom. The Baptists, who were living under a form of Congregationalist theocracy, knew that Jefferson was an advocate of religious freedom and wrote to express their hope that one day his views would carry the day in the states, and they would then be free from an established church. [Extracted from the article]

In a way that reflected this evolving right-wing extremism within the leadership of the LCMS, I became the recipient of a batch of hate memes that originated with the executive director of LCMS' Lutheran Heritage Foundation. This led me to believe that many members in the LCMS may be unaware of the evolution of the denomination, where their donations are going and what the leadership of the LCMS is up to. They have become a petri dish for extremism bereft of any notion of the separation of church and state, a regrettable dystopian state of affairs for the LCMS and our country. [Extracted from the article]

For white Christians, who comprised the majority in America until quite recently (2014), the loss isn't only about changing family beliefs and traditions - it's about the fear of loss of racial and religious power and privilege. America's religious landscape is shifting. Many white Christians are using their privilege to support our diversity, and they understand that keeping church and state separate is the cornerstone of this work. [Extracted from the article]

Tony Spell, a minister at the Life Tabernacle Church near Baton Rouge, La., ignored authorities and held mass indoor services even after the state deemed such activity unlawful. State officials eventually stepped in and forced Bakker to stop marketing the product as a cure. In late 2021, with 785,000 American dead of COVID, some Christian Nationalists were still peddling conspiracy theories. [Extracted from the article]

Restoring abortion access is not the only reason 14 Missouri faith leaders joined a lawsuit filed by Americans United and the National Women's Law Center to challenge the state's abortion bans as a violation of church-state separation. While Missouri's law allegedly has limited exceptions that permit an abortion if the pregnant person's life is at risk, there have already been reports of people denied emergency abortion care in life-threatening situations. [Extracted from the article]

Medical practitioners who disapprove of a vaccine on religious grounds deny such vaccines to others, even though other religions support the use of that vaccine. A government employee who works as a county clerk opposes gay marriage, so she refuses to issue lawful marriage licenses to gay couples. [Extracted from the article]

That country would not be America because without church-state separation, we are no longer the nation we were intended to be. There's a reason AU's founders cited protection of public education as part of the organization's chief goals during our founding in 1947: no separation, no public education. [Extracted from the article]

In this issue, we're focusing on U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), a persistent champion of church-state separation in Congress. U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott Is A Champion Of Church-State Separation A member of the House LGBTQ Equality Caucus, Scott co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that would codify protections for same-sex marriage that were upheld by the high court in 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges decision. [Extracted from the article]

This issue, we're focusing on C. Stanley Lowell, a Methodist minister, author and activist who was affiliated with AU from 1951-74, including serving 19 years as the editor of Church & State. During his 73-year lifespan, Lowell wrote or coauthored nearly 10 books and served as editor of AU's monthly Church & State, where he regularly wrote, or collaborated in, editorials and columns. [Extracted from the article]

The Family Research Council, a conservative Christian think tank based in Washington, D.C., is the latest right-leaning organization to seek and receive a designation from the IRS classifying it as an association of churches. The designation may be legitimate for some Christian aid organizations that have changed their IRS designation - though I continue to have doubts - but it's indefensible for overtly partisan groups such as the FRC and the AFA. After Trump lost the 2020 election, FRC's president, Tony Perkins, recklessly advanced the lie that Joe Biden lost and that Republican state legislators could lawfully dismiss the electoral results. [Extracted from the article]

The question of when life begins is a theological question.It has never been defined legally as "at conception."Jewish scholars from the first century on have debated thecircumstances in which abortion is forbidden orpermissible, including some cases where it is required. Behind The Debate Over Abortion, There Lies A Troubling Truth The First Amendment's religion clauses state, "Congressshall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.". [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the appointment of homeschooling advocate Michael Farris as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the largest religious right legal group in the U.S. It provides brief overview of Farris' career background and his advocacy of advancing the Christian homeschooling movement. It also mentions Farris' opposition for school vouchers in favor of homeschooling.

The article reports on the surprising victory of the U.S. Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump. Topics include the anxieties and speculations among religious and nonreligious groups, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community and other sectors of what is in store for the next four years under Trump's administration; post-election data from Pew Research Center regarding religious freedom and the Trump's campaign in banning Muslim immigrants from entering U.S.

Officials in Troy, Mich., violated the religious freedomrights of a group of Muslims when they denied them zoningapproval to build a mosque, a federal court has ruled. "Troy had granted variance requests for places of worship inthe past and at least 35 places of worship in the City donot adhere to the current place of worship standards,"Edmunds wrote. [Extracted from the article]

Jehovah's Witnesses have beenreceiving state support for 30 years. Jehovah's Witnesses Lose Tax Funding In Norway Government officials in Norway have decided to denytax funding to the Jehovah's Witnesses, arguing thatsome of the religious group's practices are troubling. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the fight between U.S. conservative religious groups and gay rights supporters over same-sex marriage as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in the Hollingsworth versus Perry and U.S. versus Windsor cases. Religious groups use papal edicts and the Bible to persuade the highest court to rule against marriage equality. But gay rights organizations contend that rhetoric of religious groups on marriage are incorrect, one of which is what the Bible says about polygamy.

The article offers the author's insights on the religious groups or organizations who use faith and Religious Right in justifying their exercise on violent extremism and terrorism. It presents several profiles of several religious movements including the Army of God (AOG) on radical anti-abortion, Abiding Truth Ministries on radical anti-LGBT, and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) on white supremacy.

The article discusses the efforts of U.S. religious groups over anti-discrimination measures as of February 2016. Topics include the Religious Rights' response to the 1973 ruling in the case Roe v. Wade, attacks on local ordinances and state bills prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson's suggestions to construct bathrooms for transgender people.

The article offers the U.S. church & state news briefs as of January 1, 2016. Topics discussed include proposed change in the Los Angeles County, California seal led to controversy between county officials and the newspaper Los Angeles Times editorial board, Community Connectors a program initiated for reducing school drop outs through mentoring gives most money to religious groups according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and decrease belief in Creationism in millennials according to a survey.

"The Capitol welcomes a diverse range of religions every year to display holiday statues during the holiday season, so we wanted to join in on that", a Temple official who called himself Minister Adam told WICS-TV. The Satanic Temple Illinois erect-ed a holiday display in the Capitol rotunda in Springfield in December, despite complaints from a local Cath-o-lic bishop who argued that the symbol should not have been allowed. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides some insights into the Top Ten Religious Right groups in the United States, as determined by publicly available financial data and political prominence, citing their leaders, funding and activities and the scope of their influence. Among these groups are the Christian Broadcasting Network, Focus on the Family, Coral Ridge Ministries and Alliance Defense Fund among others.

The article reports on the activities conducted by religious rights groups in an effort to turn out the evangelical vote in the fall 2010 U.S. elections. The campaign aims to encourage church-going voters to register, drive congregants to the polls and elect favored candidates. Some of the activities of the groups included "The Call Sacramento" rally on September 3-4, the Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference and Strategy Briefing on September 10-11, and Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally.

The article provides information on the lawsuit filed by the Religious Right Group against Frank Buono, assistant superintendent of the preserve by the National Park Service in Southern California. The charge has been brought due to Buono's removal of the cross from the Mojave National Preserve. Together with Buono, the two federal district courts and two federal appeals courts agree that the act is just righteous since it depicts that the state does not favor one religion over others.

The article offers information on the two religious right figures, Ralph Reed and Randall Terry, who return to the spotlight of activism in the U.S. Reed organized the Faith and Freedom Coalition to be his partylist and the white evangelical Christians, Hispanics, black, women and young people are his target for his political candidacy. On the other hand, Terry who is an anti-abortion activist shows no sympathy on the assassination of the abortion provider in Kansas, Dr. George Tiller.

The article focuses on resolutions outlined by a team of lawyers at the Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) concerning church-state problems in public schools. When AU lawyers receive a report regarding inappropriate promotion of religion by public school officials, it notes that they respond with a letter outlining the law and explaining how the school has run afoul of it. A number of related cases which took place in the different states of the country is highlighted.

The article reports on the criticism of the Religious Right about the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) located underground at the east side of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. According to the Religious Right groups, CVC is a godless pit and a shrine to secular liberalism. Staffers from Americans United visited the center and noted that despite all of the carping by the Religious Right, the Center does contain several references to religion.

The article offers information related to the claims of religious right groups to be churches to avoid Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reporting requirements and oversight from the IRS. It mentions that groups are no longer required to issue publicly available financial documents that show how they spend their money and how much they pay top executives; and several groups that had been considered ministries had reorganized as churches.

The article reports that Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has publicly opposed the removal of a specific reference to a provision ensuring separation of the State and churches. It mentions that measure would have given religious groups greater access to media, allowed more church ownership of property and allowed religious leaders to have a greater presence in government-owned facilities; and mentions views of Obrador, on the issue.

The article focuses on some issues and controversies involving the U.S. Congress and religious groups. The author provides reference to past bickering involving the two parties. He also cites several legislative bills by various representatives which involve the church.

Focuses on the fall of Christian Coalition, the most powerful religious right group in the U.S. Year when the group was founded; Founder of the religious sect; Decrease in the organization's budget.

Reports that U.S. President George W. Bush's creation of regulations and proposals to implement the 'faith-based initiative,' which is popular among many Religious Right leaders. Increase in access to federal funding for religious groups offering social services for the nation's less fortunate; Bush's effort to spread compassion in the country; Continuation of the Compassion Capital Fund.

The article offers information on several aspects associated with the Montana Teen Programs Run By Religious Groups in which teens who report sexual abuse or other forms of mistreatment can be removed from the programs but state officials cannot sanction staffers at the programs who caused the harm. The topics addressed include details on the views of Sarah Corbally who is the former head of Montana's Division of Child and Family Services.

The article offers information on several aspects associated with the Americans United for Separation of Church & State and a broad coalition of 130 national organizations sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Charles Grassley reminding them of the importance of the Johnson Amendment and asking them to support it. The topics addressed include details on an introduction of legislation by conservative members of Congress euphemistically called the "Free Speech Fairness Act".

The article offers information on several aspects associated with the Americans United for Separation of Church & State and Religious Groups file brief in case challenging government-owned Maryland cross. The topics addressed include details on the Americans United led the organizations in filing the brief in the case, American Legion v. American Humanist Association, which challenges the constitutionality of the large cross located on public land on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

The article discusses how the Americans United for Separation of Church and State nonprofit organization joined other civil rights and religious groups in expressing concern about U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination of attorney William P. Barr to become the nation's next attorney general, and it mentions criticism about Barr's willingness to enforce America's civil rights laws. Barr's views about God's law, secular government, and the separation of church and state are assessed.

The article focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court case Epperson v. Arkansas, in which the court ruling dealt with the right of students in public schools to learn modern science without interference by religious groups. Topics include the high court invalidated an Arkansas law that banned teaching of evolution in the state's public schools, and the Arkansas law had its roots in conservative religious groups that opposed evolution as it conflicted with the Bible's account of humankind's origins.

The article focuses on the law in Massachusetts regarding tax aid to religion. Topics mentioned include the insights of Ronal Madnick, member of board of trustees at the American United (AU) organization, on the finnacial support of the government to church buildings restoration, the government spending management, and the insights of Barry W. Lynn, executive director of AU, on the government spending to support churches.

The article looks at the efforts of Florida Representative Charles Van Zant proposing nullification on the regulation of same-sex marriage in the U.S. Particular focus is given to the states' right for nullification of approved regulations such as abortion and same-sex marriage. It also highlights the impacts of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the establishment of theocratic movement for state-focused political campaigns.

The article offers news briefs related for the nonprofit organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State as of March 2016. Topics discussed include a proposed resolution by Georgia State Senator Donzella James to rename a state highway, honoring controversial television evangelist Creflo Dollar, a suit filed by Paul Mathis, former employee of Christina Heating & Air Condition Inc. for religious discrimination and prohibition of intolerant religious leaders in Singapore.

The article reports that the religious right groups have claimed that Christianity is being oppressed in the U.S. Pastor Robert Jeffress, a Dallas Southern Baptist minister asserted that attacks on American Christians are led by Satan. Jeffress also said that the U.S. is more hostile toward Christianity now than at any other time in the U.S.'s history.

The article discusses the U.S. President Donald J. Trump' executive order that bans the entry of the Muslim-majority countries peoples in the U.S. and its impact on the religious groups. It informs that the issues on the topics including civil liberties program, religious freedom and human rights have rose up among the religious organizations, who are planning to defend the of Muslim immigrants and refugees rights.

The article reports that a town in New Jersey which rejected a plan by local Muslims to build a mosque is paying the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge more than three million dollars in damages. In Islamic Society of Basking Ridge v. Township of Bernards, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Shipp delivered judgment in favor of the Muslim group.

The author discusses the banning of public school evangelization in the U.S. Topics include the Todd Becker Foundation that sermoned at a public school in Caledonia, Minnesota on November 30, 2016; the Todd Becker Foundation speaker Keith Becker who talks on homosexuality and the school superintendent Ben Barton who admitted for their failure of not handling well the situation.

The article offers the insights of several individuals on the impact of the Religious Liberty Restoration Act, an amendment on the June 2012 primary ballot in North Dakota, to the rights of women, taxpayers and minorities in the area. Progressive activist Don Morrison states that the measure will allow certain people in violating other's human rights. Associate legal director Alex J. Luchenitser says that the amendment will favor religious groups over non-religious groups.

The article discusses the association between the religious right groups and history in the U.S. Topics discussed include an outline on the historical record of the country's human rights, family well-being and personal liberties, the sexual revolution, the creationism in public schools, and the religious rights groups.