---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea of America's religious groups…"
description: "\"The idea of America's religious groups fighting over the limited public money to be made available takes us down the road towards the kind of sectarian..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/david-saperstein-55525_america_the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-f_1043883.jpg"
---

#  The idea of America's religious groups fighting over the…

![“The idea of America's religious groups fighting over the limited public money to be made available takes us down the road towards the kind of sectarian competition that has torn so many nations apart, and which our separation of church and state has spared us.” quote by David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/david-saperstein-55525_america_the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-f_1043883.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/david-saperstein-55525_america_the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-f_1043883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/david-saperstein-55525_america_the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-f_1043883.jpg)

> “The idea of America's religious groups fighting over the limited public money to be made available takes us down the road towards the kind of sectarian competition that has torn so many nations apart, and which our separation of church and state has spared us.”

[David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Public funding for religious groups can fuel sectarian rivalry, threatening social cohesion.

**In simple terms:** Money to religious groups may cause divisive competition.

Key Takeaway

Limit public money to secular causes.

Themes

religion public policy social cohesion

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- religious freedom
- government budgeting
- interfaith dialogue

Key Concepts

church‑state separation funding ethics political stability

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies balance religious freedom with fair funding?
- What alternatives exist to support community services?

A Different Perspective

Risk of infringing on free exercise rights.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Down the road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-the-road/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Public money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-money/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/)

## Related quotes

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The separation of church and state is a misnomer. People misunderstand it. Of course, it comes from a phrase that was in a letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-johnson/the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-a-misnomer-people-misunderstand/)

[Mike Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-johnson/)

> [US is a very religious country. Separation of church and state is part of our credo, but that it is hard to understand since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/us-is-a-very-religious-country-separation-of-church-and-state-is-part/)

[Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/)

> [“Do you know, where does this phrase "separation of Church and State" come from? It was not in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists...The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-urquhart/do-you-know-where-does-this-phrase-separation-of-church-and-state/)

Glen Urquhart

> [The separation of Church and State in everything relating to taxation should be absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-separation-of-church-and-state-in-everything-relating-to-taxation/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Quite often you hear people say, 'What about separation of church and state?' There is no such thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-severson/quite-often-you-hear-people-say-what-about-separation-of-church-and/)

Dan Severson

> [They have kept us in submission because they have talked about separation of church and state. There is no such thing in the Constitution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/they-have-kept-us-in-submission-because-they-have-talked-about/)

[Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/)

> [The fact that religion plays such a part in how people vote troubles me, troubles me as a minister's daughter. Because I always felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/the-fact-that-religion-plays-such-a-part-in-how-people-vote-troubles/)

[Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/)

> [The separation of church and state is a suburban, not an urban, issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-a-suburban-not-an-urban-issue/)

[Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/)

> [I disagree strongly with the concept of separation of church and state. It was not written into the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-buck/i-disagree-strongly-with-the-concept-of-separation-of-church-and/)

[Ken Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-buck/)

> [I questioned the faithful of all communions; I particularly sought the society of clergymen, who are the depositories of the various creeds and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-questioned-the-faithful-of-all-communions-i-particularly-sought-the/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [ I do not make decisions \[as governor\] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-based-on-what-have-i-learned/)

[Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/)

> [Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/where-in-the-constitution-is-the-separation-of-church-and-state/)

[Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/)

> [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [The civil Government, though bereft of every thing like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success; whilst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-civil-government-though-bereft-of-every-thing-like-an-associated/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

## More by David Saperstein

> [“I have finally reverted the publishing rights for my Cocoon Trilogy back to me and, for the first time, e-published the final book -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/i-have-finally-reverted-the-publishing-rights-for-my-cocoon-trilogy/)

[David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/)

> [ They engage in activities aimed at bringing them \[clients\] to Jesus. That's fine, but it shouldn't be done with government money. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/they-engage-in-activities-aimed-at-bringing-them-clients-to-jesus/)

[David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/)

> [AIDS destroys families, decimates communities and, particularly in the poorest areas of the world, threatens to destabilize the social, cultural, and economic fabric of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/aids-destroys-families-decimates-communities-and-particularly-in-the/)

[David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/)

> [From the prophets' dreams of the time when nations would beat their swords into plowshares to today's aspirations of a nuclear-weapons-free world, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/from-the-prophets-dreams-of-the-time-when-nations-would-beat-their/)

[David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/)

> [At this crucial crossroads of history, we join to call on the world to recognize that violence begets violence; that nuclear proliferation benefits no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/at-this-crucial-crossroads-of-history-we-join-to-call-on-the-world-to/)

[David Saperstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/)

[Explore all 6 David Saperstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/)

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The idea of America's religious groups fighting over the limited public money to be made available takes us down the road towards the kind of sectarian competition that has torn so many nations apart, and which our separation of church and state has spared us.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Saperstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-fighting-over-the-limited/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-fighting-over-the-limited/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/david-saperstein-55525_america_the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-f_1043883.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/david-saperstein-55525_america_the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-f_1043883.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/david-saperstein-55525_america_the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-f_1043883.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The idea of America's religious groups fighting over the limited public money to be made available takes us…” — David Saperstein",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David Saperstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-saperstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The idea of America's religious groups...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-fighting-over-the-limited/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-saperstein/the-idea-of-america-s-religious-groups-fighting-over-the-limited/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
