Two important principles in U.S. government are the free exercise of religion and separation of church and state. While these two principles have served the nation well, they are not easy to put together logically, and they give rise to issues in practice that often require thoughtful and, frequently, legal judgment. Many Americans believe that the free exercise of religion involves the right and duty to apply their religious commitments to public as well as private affairs and therefore think in terms of America as a Christian nation. Others believe that the separation of church and state means that all political life should be secular in orientation.

Was the United States a Christian nation from its beginning? How did the principles of freedom of religion get incorporated in our government, and what do they mean? This one-session study looks at this history and asks how Christians can best act while respecting a separation of religion and government.

This study is part of the "Religion and Politics Study Pack II." However, it may also be studied by itself.