separation of church and state

separation of church and state

The phrase comes from US Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, who wrote of "a wall of separation between church and state" in 1802.

1. The idea that a government should not involve itself in issues of religion. Of course there should be a separation of church and state! You don't want the government dictating which faith you practice, do you?

2. By extension, the treatment of any two related things as separate entities. OK, we need some separation of church and state here—I don't want my personal money to keep getting mixed up with the money I'm setting aside for taxes.

See also: and, church, of, separation, state

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