“Separation of Church and State” Protects Religious Liberty Against Government Overreach and Continues The Influence of Christian Principles Within Policy

Gina Lee

Introduction and Summary

Rachel K. Laster, in her article “If You Want Reproductive Freedom, Work For Church-State Separation”, begins with highlighting that an abortion provider was murdered by a minister and connects the crime with religious extremists. Her goal is to work with many types of groups, including religious groups, to reduce the need for abortion “while leaving in place the right to have one” (2021). In essence, Laser claims that the quest to ban abortion is led by extremists who are willing to kill and have switched their tactic to Acts such as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act or the heartbeat bill in Texas. Laser suggests this is Christian Nationalism; however, humanist, Jewish, and other religious groups stand with her in disagreement to such policy changes that intertwines religion and the state (2021).

Implications 

One can conclude from our Founding Fathers that the idea of separating church and state is not the proposed analysis of Rachel Laser. In her view, religion can be of no influence regarding policy making or policy changes; however, this is not how many scholars of government history and policy would interpret the Founders. Francis J. Beckwith states that the Danbury Baptist who were known to oppose religious establishment “did not oppose the influence of religion on government” (Beckwith, 2010, p. 95). Laser takes a humanistic point of view regarding faith and the government where man is at the center (Schaeffer, 1981, p. 23). When man is the sole bases for which policy is made, society becomes hostile towards anything substantially metaphysical; however, it is important to understand the vision of the First Amendment establishment clause. Without a clear understanding, God as the highest authority will be viewed as infringement and unconstitutional, or, moreover, any type of religious language will be frowned upon.

References

Beckwith, Francis J. (2010). Politics for Christians. InterVarsity Press.

Laser, Rachel K. (2021, October 6). If You Want Reproductive Freedom, Work for Church-State Separation. Americans United for Separation of Church and State. https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/Rachel-Laser-Reproductive-Freedom

Schaeffer, Francis A. (1981). A Christian Manifesto. Crossway.