--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The founding fathers of the U.S. were…" description: "\"The founding fathers of the U.S. were right when they erected that wall between church and state.\" — Jim Starlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jim-starlin-12752_church_the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-rig_2984455.jpg" --- # The founding fathers of the U.S. were right when they… ![“The founding fathers of the U.S. were right when they erected that wall between church and state.” quote by Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jim-starlin-12752_church_the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-rig_2984455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jim-starlin-12752_church_the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-rig_2984455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jim-starlin-12752_church_the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-rig_2984455.jpg) > “The founding fathers of the U.S. were right when they erected that wall between church and state.” [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates separation of church and state as essential for liberty **In simple terms:** Separate church from government Key Takeaway Protect religious freedom Themes separation of church and state liberty government Mood thoughtful analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debates - legal reforms - civil rights movements Key Concepts constitutionalism secularism Questions to Reflect On - How does separation benefit democracy? - What challenges arise in pluralistic societies? A Different Perspective Critics argue strict separation can limit communal values ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-has-erected-a-wall-between-church-and-state-that-2/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-first-amendment-has-erected-a-wall-between-church-and-state-that/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [I believe in a wall between church and state so high that no one can climb over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/i-believe-in-a-wall-between-church-and-state-so-high-that-no-one-can-2/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Today the separation of church and state is America is used to silence the church... The way the concept is used today is totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/today-the-separation-of-church-and-state-is-america-is-used-to/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The notion of a rigid separation between church and state has no basis in either the text of the Constitution or the writings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-notion-of-a-rigid-separation-between-church-and-state-has-no/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The idea of separating church and state by the Founding Fathers of America was freedom from the domination of one form of religion, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/the-idea-of-separating-church-and-state-by-the-founding-fathers-of/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [I believe in a wall between church and state so high that no one can climb over it. When religion controls government, political liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/i-believe-in-a-wall-between-church-and-state-so-high-that-no-one-can/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [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/) > [“We establish no religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief. Nor will we ever. Church and state are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-establish-no-religion-in-this-country-we-command-no-worship-we/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Church and state are, and must remain, separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/church-and-state-are-and-must-remain-separate/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ 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/) > [Blasphemy and sedition (meaning the truth about Church and State).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/blasphemy-and-sedition-meaning-the-truth-about-church-and-state/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Jim Starlin > [You don't have to be a religious person to be affected by religion or a religious movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-religious-person-to-be-affected-by-religion-or/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [When I started in the comic book business, 'Art Of' books were strictly the provenance of the greats, like Rembrandt and Da Vinci. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/when-i-started-in-the-comic-book-business-art-of-books-were-strictly/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [The Universe will now be set right. Made over to fit my unique view of what should be. Let Nihilism reign supreme!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/the-universe-will-now-be-set-right-made-over-to-fit-my-unique-view-of/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [Not exactly sure there can be a final chapter to Thanos, considering what he is and his relationship with Mistress Death. Might just be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/not-exactly-sure-there-can-be-a-final-chapter-to-thanos-considering/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [There's a character, Eon, I did back in the 'Captain Marvel' story. 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Let’s face it, traveling to some far off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-in-depth-subjects-can-be-better-handled-in-a/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [Being an artist, you soak up imagery, and you put it back out in whatever form you do your own imagery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/being-an-artist-you-soak-up-imagery-and-you-put-it-back-out-in/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [Vietnam affected everything in life while it went on. My time in the service made it clear to me that what we were being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/vietnam-affected-everything-in-life-while-it-went-on-my-time-in-the/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [When I was a kid, there was this neighborhood beer and wine store that sold old comics for a nickel a piece. I'd load…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/when-i-was-a-kid-there-was-this-neighborhood-beer-and-wine-store-that/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [It has taken some time, but I know I've put my trust in the right team, and I'm excited to collaborate with Universal Cable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/it-has-taken-some-time-but-i-know-i-ve-put-my-trust-in-the-right-team/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [If I hadn't had the outlet of writing and drawing comics, I guess there's a good chance I wouldn't be around today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/if-i-hadn-t-had-the-outlet-of-writing-and-drawing-comics-i-guess/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [I had worked on Thanos, created him back even before I started working at Marvel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/i-had-worked-on-thanos-created-him-back-even-before-i-started-working/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) [Explore all 53 Jim Starlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) ## More Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [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/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [The minute you walk outside of your church on Sunday you're in mission territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-minute-you-walk-outside-of-your-church-on-sunday-you-re-in/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) [Browse all 9,430 Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The founding fathers of the U.S. were right when they erected that wall between church and state.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Starlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-right-when-they-erected-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Church" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-right-when-they-erected-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jim-starlin-12752_church_the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-rig_2984455.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jim-starlin-12752_church_the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-rig_2984455.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/jim-starlin-12752_church_the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-rig_2984455.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The founding fathers of the U.S. were right when they erected that wall between church and state.” — Jim Starlin", "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": "Jim Starlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The founding fathers of the U.S....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-right-when-they-erected-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/the-founding-fathers-of-the-u-s-were-right-when-they-erected-that/#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 } } ] } ```