ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents texts and documents that exemplify the church-state question as it has developed in American history. These readings delineate the range of tensions between the temporal and spiritual forces of society. The phrase "church and state" designates a certain tension in the pluralistic society. In this sense it has been a constant from the colonial settlements to the latest term of the Supreme Court. In one respect the phrase "church and state" is unfortunate because its connotations are excessively formalistic. The book offers readings about the relationships between those authority structures shaped primarily for temporal purposes and those dedicated by spiritual ends throughout American history. It places major emphasis on the interrelationships of political, legal, and religious phenomena in any given period and, as important, the necessity of interpreting these phenomena.
