Believe Quote by Jim Wallis
“I believe in the separation of church and state, absolutely. But I don't believe in the separation of public life from our values, our basic values, and for many of us, our religious values.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Address, date unknown
Advocates that while government should stay neutral on religion, personal values, including religious ones, should inform public life.
In simple terms: Values shape public life even if church and state are separate.
Key Takeaway
Allow values to guide civic engagement.
Themes
separation
values
public life
religion
civic engagement
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
political
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debates
- community organizing
- policy making
- media commentary
Key Concepts
pluralism
civil discourse
ethical foundations
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies respect both secular governance and personal moral convictions?
- What mechanisms ensure inclusive public dialogue?
A Different Perspective
Balancing diverse values can cause conflict in pluralistic societies.
![“I do not make decisions [as governor] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious classes in school. I'm a big believer in separation of church and state, and I think that's what . . . the law is.” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a18/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_believer_i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-base_18031.jpg)
