--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have this idea in our minds that…" description: "\"We have this idea in our minds that there's this separation of church and state in America, which I think is a good thing. And we extend that to our po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c31/stephen-colbert-503_a-good-thing_we-have-this-idea-in-our-minds-that-ther_2256524.jpg" --- # We have this idea in our minds that there's this… ![“We have this idea in our minds that there's this separation of church and state in America, which I think is a good thing. And we extend that to our politics - not just church and state, but it's also there's a separation of religion and politics. But of course there isn't.” quote by Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c31/stephen-colbert-503_a-good-thing_we-have-this-idea-in-our-minds-that-ther_2256524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c31/stephen-colbert-503_a-good-thing_we-have-this-idea-in-our-minds-that-ther_2256524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c31/stephen-colbert-503_a-good-thing_we-have-this-idea-in-our-minds-that-ther_2256524.jpg) > “We have this idea in our minds that there's this separation of church and state in America, which I think is a good thing. And we extend that to our politics - not just church and state, but it's also there's a separation of religion and politics. But of course there isn't.” [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The notion that church and state are separate is idealized, yet religion still influences politics, blurring that division. **In simple terms:** People think church and state are separate, but religion still impacts politics. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden religious influences in politics. Themes politics religion separation public discourse ideology Mood critical thoughtful analytical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - policy analysis - campaign strategy - public debate - media commentary Key Concepts secularism political theory cultural influence Questions to Reflect On - How does religious belief shape political decisions? - Can true neutrality ever be achieved? A Different Perspective Separating belief from policy is challenging in a pluralistic society. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion and politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-and-politics/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) ## Related quotes > [We have this idea in our mind that there's a separation of church and state in America, which I think is a good thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-have-this-idea-in-our-mind-that-there-s-a-separation-of-church-and/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I had been taught that the separation between religion and politics happened in the Enlightenment. But there were people who tried to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/i-had-been-taught-that-the-separation-between-religion-and-politics/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [We have this idea in our minds that there's this separation of church and state in America, which I think is a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-have-this-idea-in-our-minds-that-there-s-this-separation-of-church/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell/the-idea-that-religion-and-politics-don-t-mix-was-invented-by-the/) [Jerry Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell/) > [Question with boldness even the existence of a god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/question-with-boldness-even-the-existence-of-a-god/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-religion-and-politics-people-s-beliefs-and-convictions-are-in-2/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Naturally, the common people don't want war ... but after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/naturally-the-common-people-don-t-want-war-but-after-all-it-is-the/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) > [“There are two things in life I never discuss, Religion and Politics. That is the only way one can have a serene life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdulazeez-henry-musa/there-are-two-things-in-life-i-never-discuss-religion-and-politics/) [Abdulazeez Henry Musa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdulazeez-henry-musa/) > [The political tactics of division and slander are not our values. They are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-political-tactics-of-division-and-slander-are-not-our-values-they/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [In Islam religion and politics cannot be separated. Unlike other religions, Islam is political by its very nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/in-islam-religion-and-politics-cannot-be-separated-unlike-other/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [Church and state should be separate, not only in form, but fact - religion and politics should not be mingled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-fillmore/church-and-state-should-be-separate-not-only-in-form-but-fact/) [Millard Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-fillmore/) > [When religion and politics ride in the same cart, the whirlwind follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/when-religion-and-politics-ride-in-the-same-cart-the-whirlwind-follows/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Politics and morality are inseparable. And as morality's foundation is religion, religion and politics are necessarily related. We need religion as a guide. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/politics-and-morality-are-inseparable-and-as-morality-s-foundation-is/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Religion has been raising human consciousness for centuries. Whatever man is now, whatever little consciousness he has, the whole credit goes to religion. Politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/religion-has-been-raising-human-consciousness-for-centuries-whatever/) [OSHO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-religion-and-politics-people-s-beliefs-and-convictions-are-in/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Stephen Colbert > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/cynicism-masquerades-as-wisdom-but-it-is-the-farthest-thing-from-it/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [We all deserve credit for this new surveillance state that we live in because we the people voted for the Patriot Act. Democrats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-all-deserve-credit-for-this-new-surveillance-state-that-we-live-in/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I've long been against illegal aliens, partly because they distract us from an even bigger threat: real aliens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-ve-long-been-against-illegal-aliens-partly-because-they-distract-us/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Believe in me, cause I don't believe in anything, and I wanna be someone to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/believe-in-me-cause-i-don-t-believe-in-anything-and-i-wanna-be/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It's August, which means Congress is on recess and Mitch McConnell has shimmied back into the ocean to seek a mate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/it-s-august-which-means-congress-is-on-recess-and-mitch-mcconnell-has/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Try to love others and serve others and hopefully find those who love and serve you in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/try-to-love-others-and-serve-others-and-hopefully-find-those-who-love/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Thirty seconds is the exact amount of time Americans can tolerate something they don't understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/thirty-seconds-is-the-exact-amount-of-time-americans-can-tolerate/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I used to make up stuff in my bio all the time, that I used to be a professional ice-skater and stuff like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-used-to-make-up-stuff-in-my-bio-all-the-time-that-i-used-to-be-a/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I live by syllogisms: God is love. Love is blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God. I don't know what I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-live-by-syllogisms-god-is-love-love-is-blind-stevie-wonder-is-blind/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“Unlike Paul Newman, who seems to think that salad dressing is the cure-all for America's ills, I'm a man of action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/unlike-paul-newman-who-seems-to-think-that-salad-dressing-is-the-cure/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Now, for my younger viewers out there, a book is something we used to have before the internet. 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