 "separation of church and state" (sometimes "wall of separation between church and state") is a phrase used by thomas jefferson and others expressing an understanding of the intent and function of the establishment clause and free exercise clause of the first amendment to the constitution of the united states. the phrase has since been repeatedly used by the supreme court of the united states. the first amendment to the united states constitution provides that "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ..." and article vi specifies that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the united states." the modern concept of a wholly secular government is sometimes credited to the writings of english philosopher john locke, but the phrase "separation of church and state" in this context is generally traced to a january 1, 1802 letter by thomas jefferson, addressed to the danbury baptist association in connecticut, and published in a massachusetts newspaper. echoing the language of the founder of the first baptist church in america, roger williamsâwho had written in 1644 of "[a] hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world"âjefferson wrote, "i contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole american people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church & state."jefferson, thomas. jefferson's letter to the danbury baptists: the final letter, as sent. the library of congress information bulletin: june 1998. lib. of cong., june 1998. web. aug 7, 2010. jefferson's metaphor of a wall of separation has been cited repeatedly by the u.s. supreme court. in reynolds v. united states (1879) the court wrote that jefferson's comments "may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the [first] amendment." in everson v. board of education (1947), justice hugo black wrote: "in the words of thomas jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state."jefferson's danbury letter has been cited favorably by the supreme court several times, notwithstanding that the court has also criticized it. in its 1879 reynolds v. united states decision the high court sai
History_of_religion_in_the_United_States Secularism_in_the_United_States Separation_of_church_and_state