Anti-disestablishmentarianism: the religion clauses at the end of the millennium

Martin H. Belsky, University of Akron School of Law

Abstract

When I was in sixth grade, I learned a great word-- “antidisestablishmentarianism.” I was told it was one of the longest words in the English language. I thought the word was “cool.” I did not know what it meant and I did not care. I should have.

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary defines “antidisestablimentarianism” as “strong opposition to the disestablishment of a State Church.” In other words, it means fighting the strict separation of Church and State.

In recent years, antidisestablishmentarianists have gained a majority of the United States Supreme Court. In fact, two cases decided in June of 1997 indicate that the supposed “wall” provided by the First Amendment of the Constitution between government's secular authority and religion is crumbling.