The Changing Role of Government and the Myth of Separation

Most discussion of church and state relations in the United States today tends to take final refuge in the slogans "separation of church and state" and "religious liberty." These slogans, which are associated with the origin of our national life, may properly be called "mythical" in that they present simplified understand ings of more complex realities, symbolic formulations of historical experience} The problem of this paper is to assess the socio cultural result of applying these "myths" to a state in which the role of government is rapidly changing and expanding. Is the slo gan "separation of church and state" equally relevant as an ap plication of democratic insights to every era of American history? Or may it in fact serve as a wedge in front of government, sweep ing the cultural expressions of religion aside as government's role continues to penetrate deeper and deeper into the cultural and institutional life of the society? If the latter, the question then becomes relevant whether the myth of separation has in fact come into conflict with the myth of religious liberty in complex and subtle ways which could not conceivably have been antici pated by the national "founding fathers." Or, the reverse question could be raised whether and with what effect religious institutions (whose cultural roles are also expanding) may legitimately em ploy the myth of religious liberty as a cultural wedge.