Religion among Americans is currently widespread. Research shows that approximately 90% of Americans profess to believe in God. Religion therefore remains a great influence on American culture. But ironically, the United States is one of the few countries that does not establish an official religion. This is called separation of church and state. The implementation of the separation of church and state in the 1990s was a controversy that transformed not only government but also education in our society today. Separation of church and state is the government's neutral position toward religion. The separation of church and state is not directly contained in the United States Constitution. But this principle is often mentioned in the First Amendment to freedom of religion. The First Amendment prohibits the creation of a national religion, but not necessarily the separation of church and state. The real purpose of the First Amendment was to prohibit the federal government from creating a national church, as the British did. The amendment recognizes a “differentiation between church and government, that does not mean they cannot cooperate with each other,” Tomas Jefferson put it best. The government is prohibited from supporting or approving any religion, or promoting one over another. The government also cannot appoint religious leaders, force anyone to worship, or provide interpretations of sacred scriptures. Historians say our founding fathers provided four primary reasons for the separation of church and state. First, the founders wanted separation so that the affairs of the Church could be protected from any government problems. Additionally, so Americans can be protected from middle of paper......vid. “Separation of Church and State.” Wall builders. Texas Limited Liability Corporation, January 2001. Web. March 18, 2014. “Church and State, separation of.” Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. March 21, 2014 ..Flax, Bill. “The true meaning of the separation of church and state.” Forbes. July 9, 2011. the web. March 19, 2014. .Paulsen, Michael S. “Where in the Constitution is the Separation of Church and State.” Public discourse. The Witherspoon Institute, October 28, 2010. Web. March 19, 2014. “U.S. Supreme Court Decisions.” The Secular Web. Internet. March 17. 2014. .