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Ben Upton
Professor Bernier
PHIL 1301-M01
7 January 2015
Church vs. State Philosophy
Religion was, and still is, a highly debated topic in philosophy. Early philosophers
such as Plato, and John Locke looked at the issues between human government and God
and came up with the basic ideas, which eventually helped the Founding Fathers shape
the United States. John Lockes doctrine of the separation of church and state is directly
in the United States constitution through the voice of Thomas Jefferson. In the article on
religion, it states the congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting free exercise thereof. Locke did not want to civil government to hold too
much power, especially in a religious aspect.
Religion has always held political significance, mostly because of the argument
between the separation, or conjoining of church vs. state. There are three major ideals for
the integration of church and state. The first one is when either the church or the state
becomes dependent one the other. The church would either be reliant on the state, maybe
for financial reasons, or the state would be reliant on the church for possibly popularity
reasons. Another principle idea concerning church and state is to make self-rule each as
a basis for their relation to one another. The meaning behind this is that both will be self
ruled and equal, but will still support each other. This is very similar to Malcolm Xs
separate but equal approach to segregation. The third way, and probably the most
unpopular way to deal with church and state is completely separating them from each

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other. This means that the church will have no say in government, and the government
will not be involved in helping the churches out financially.
Thomas Hobbes also played a big role with church and state. He claimed that it
does not matter whether you call it a church or a state because they are
interchangeable. A company of men professing Christian religion, united in the person
of one sovereign means that both the church and state have people trying to spread the
Christian word. Hobbess theory was that if the words were interchangeable, then they
should both work together without any dispute.
Church vs. State was seen as a rivalry between the citizens in the late 18th century.
Most people were either in favor of their religion, or in favor of their state, or
government. Many brave philosophers put their faith and their families at risk to pursue a
solution in the world we live in.
Even though philosophers loved and trusted in their state, their religion and
beliefs came first on their priority lists. When word got around that churches and
governments were not getting along a lot of crucial philosophers stopped what they were
doing to solve the ultimate problem with their advice. Philosophers were looked at as
royalty in the citizens eyes, because of the intellectual vibes they gave off. So in the view
of the citizens, when they noticed some of the biggest names in philosophy protecting
their religious rights it became easier for both the state and the churches to come to
mutual agreements. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and other highly recognized
philosophers used their knowledge, and their persuasive political powers to not only
solve the problems in the 18th century, but to also change the future of church vs. state.

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Without them, it is hard to say whether or not people would have the right to chose their
religion today.