If one does any research on John Locke, it must be noted above all else that he concluded, in spite of his religious beliefs, civil government derives its authority and powers from mankind, not God. The two are entirely separate spheres.

The basis of this conclusion starts with the introduction to his Second Treatise of Civil Government, where, after methodically eliminating any right or dominion that God may impose upon or require of this world, either directly or through the lineage of Adam, he draws the conclusion that we “must of necessity find out another rise of government, another original of political power, and another way of designing and knowing the persons that have it.” The “political power” of which he speaks is that of a magistrate over a subject (government over its citizens) and distinguishable from all other power relationships (of which he provides several examples)—this power being all aspects of the actions we now attribute to our government.

What follows is Locke stepping through the theoretical state of nature and examining the bonds of association that ultimately form the basis of the social contract. In the end, Locke’s conclusion is that political power, the power of the government to exercise its authority over its citizens, arises from the laws of man and agreements among men—the civil/social contract. We do not take our cue from the Bible or some other mythical text.

Locke’s conclusions, later echoed by the Founding Fathers in support of the new Constitution, regarded the law of God and the law of man as binding two separate spheres. In his Letter Concerning Toleration, Locke sought, “to distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of religion, and to settle the just bounds that lie between the one and the other.” The purpose of civil government, the basis of the social contract between citizens, is not for government to tell people what and how to believe, but to keep the peace. With regard to religion, Locke concluded that the state’s powers do not extend “to the establishing of any articles of faith, or form of worship, by the force of his laws.”

Hmmmm . . . . That word “establishment,” where have I heard that before? Oh yeah! The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Inherent in Locke’s “life, liberty, health, and indolence of body,” is the sovereign nature of an individual’s mind. Just as the government cannot force me to slavery in body, it cannot force me into slavery in mind.

Roger Williams, a 17th century Baptist minister, and one of the earliest proponents of separation of church and state probably best articulated the views of the Founding Fathers justifying the separation of the spheres of religion and government:

The primacy of the social contract is that, as individuals, we each surrender our liberty to the same degree as all others—and we each retain our liberty to the same degree as all others. The Founding Fathers set down in the very first sentence of the very first amendment to our Constitution, the language that separates the affairs of the church and the affairs of the state, and acknowledges and reinforces the inviolate nature of our personal beliefs.