Question I am writing a research paper about the meaning of the establishment clause. I would like to know what a specific viewpoint of a conservative nature is regarding this topic and also the assumed flaws of the typical liberal standpoint. This is NOT a loaded question as I myself believe that it is not as many liberls claim - a complete separation of church and state. My belief is that the words used in the clause are exact - in that the government shall not support a specific religion or establish a state or national religion. That it! I am hoping you can provide a more professional and polished viewpoint, conservative in nature on this topic. Thank You!
Answer You are exactly correct. Conservatives believe that the Establishment Clause was intended to prohibit the federal government from declaring and financially supporting a national religion, such as existed in many other countries at the time of the nation's founding.
It is NOT intended to prevent the federal government from supporting Christianity in general. In fact, each colony/state had government supported Christian churches.
Prior to the enactment of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Supreme Court generally took the position that the substantive protections of the Bill of Rights did not apply to actions by state governments. Subsequently, under the "incorporation doctrine", certain selected provisions were applied to states. It was not, however, until the middle and later years of the twentieth century that the Supreme Court began to interpret the establishment and free exercise clauses in such a manner as to reduce substantially the promotion of religion by state governments.
Therefore, historically, the federal government did support Christianity and let the States decide what to do for themselves. It has been a liberal interpretation of the Constitution by activist judges and justices that has changed that foundation. The liberal interpretation relies almost entirely on a letter Jefferson wrote to Madison concerning a "wall of separation" between church and state. The problem is that none of that is in the Constitution. Liberals have decided that it applies to the Constitution even though it is not stated.
