Church Quote by William Rehnquist
“The "wall of separation between church and State" is a metaphor based on bad history.”
About This Quote
Source Court opinion: Supreme Court case, 1992
The phrase “wall of separation” is a historical metaphor, not a literal legal principle, suggesting its misuse in modern debates.
In simple terms: Metaphor may be misapplied to law.
Key Takeaway
Interpret legal terms precisely.
Themes
law
history
metaphor
separation of church and state
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
legal
interpretive
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- public discourse
- legal drafting
Key Concepts
constitutional law
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How should courts handle historical metaphors?
- What alternatives clarify church‑state boundaries?
A Different Perspective
Metaphors can obscure true intent.
![“[I]f we assume a liberty interest but nevertheless say that, even assuming a liberty interest, a state can prohibit it entirely, that would be rather a conundrum.” quote by William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16f/william-rehnquist-28058_assuming_i-f-we-assume-a-liberty-interest-but-nev_1642233.jpg)
![“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 - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
