The church-state dilemma

It is a debate that has been with us ever since the First Amendment was penned. What role should faith play in the nation's civic life? And what did the framers of the Constitution intend when they wrote that congress "shall make no respecting establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"?

Guests

• Randall Balmer: Professor of American Religious History at Barnard College, Columbia University. His most recent book is "God in the White House."
• Charles Haynes: Senior scholar with the First Amendment Center.

More from MPR

• Divided, and united, by debate
  May 27, 2008

Resources

• About Randall Balmer
• About Charles Haynes
• The First Amendment
• What is the role of faith in public life?