separation of church and state
Poll: Most Americans support church-state separation; Christian nationalists differ
By Yonat Shimron — October 28, 2021
(RNS) — Americans also support some intermingling of church and state. Three in 10 said public school teachers should be allowed to lead students in Christian prayers, and 4 in 10 said it’s OK to put up Christian symbols in the public square.
When worship becomes entertainment is it really essential?
By Kenneth L. Woodward — December 23, 2020
(RNS) — When civil authorities, faced with a killer virus and the responsibility to contain it by limiting large gatherings, see humongous churches fashioned like theater auditoriums, no one should be surprised if they analogize houses of worship and treat them accordingly.
Applause for Oklahoma’s day of prayer and fasting
By Brad Hirschfield — December 3, 2020
(RNS) — Whether or not Gov. Kevin Stitt means to include nonbelievers in his state, this proclamation is worthy of applause.
Why this Baptist pastor signed up his church for a Paycheck Protection Program loan
By Ryan Burge — April 21, 2020
(RNS) — The Paycheck Protection Program could be a godsend for a small Baptist church, despite concerns about separation of church and state.
Dear Democrats: Four religion requests from non-religious Americans
By Hemant Mehta — December 13, 2019
(RNS) — While by no means our only matter of concern, toning down talk of faith in politics would show some respect to what is rapidly becoming the largest ‘religious’ group in the country.
Christians and Jews agree: The Bladensburg Cross is no secular symbol
By Holly Hollman — February 26, 2019
(RNS) — Claiming that a cross is a generic memorial to all the war dead ignores real differences in our religions' teachings about eternal life and violates the fundamental aspect of religious liberty.
Battle over religion in public schools waged in one of America’s fastest-growing cities
By Bobby Ross Jr. — February 26, 2018
McKINNEY, Texas (RNS) — The controversy has been simmering since last summer when a school superintendent prayed at a pulpit adorned with a Christian cross — during a mandatory school employee meeting at a church.
There’s room for compromise on FEMA helping houses of worship
By Mark Silk — January 15, 2018
(RNS) — And it can be found in pending federal legislation.
Bill that would allow churches to receive FEMA aid advances in Congress
By Chris Mathews — November 30, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Disaster Recovery Reform Act received strong support from both sides of the aisle despite concerns that using taxpayer funds to rebuild houses of worship would violate the separation of church and state.
South African court bars schools from promoting any one religion
By Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo — June 28, 2017
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) The Organization for Religious Education and Democracy had argued that it was in the interest of South Africa's democracy that public schools not be allowed to favor a specific religion.
Athena Salman, atheist legislator, on secular values and godless invocations
By Kimberly Winston — June 19, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Arizona native may be the only openly atheist woman state legislator in the country, but she hopes more will join her soon.
The ’Splainer: What is the Free Speech Fairness Act?
By Kimberly Winston — February 6, 2017
(RNS) Legislation introduced in Congress aims to 'restore' religious liberty in the pulpit. Will it? Let us 'Splain ...
Humanists seek ban on evangelical gift boxes in schools
By Kimberly Winston — November 16, 2016
(RNS) The will argue in court that the Christian charity's alliance with a Denver public school district is a violation of the separation of church and state.
Children on Christian or Secular swings?
By Martin E. Marty — October 25, 2016
The Founders solved the religion problem by not solving the religious problem, which is why we still have to debate it each year.
After School Satan? Church-state group plays devil’s advocate in public schools
By Sally Morrow — October 18, 2016
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (RNS) Lucien Greaves wants After School Satan to mirror the success of Christian after-school clubs. But atheists can be just as leery of his creed. So what is Satanism anyway?
