Question

which historical figure promoted the idea that government should not establish an official church

Answer 1

The historical figure who prominently promoted the idea that government should not establish an official church is Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a founding father of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He advocated for the principle of separation of church and state, which is reflected in his Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This statute, enacted in 1786, articulated the belief that individuals should have the freedom to practice their religion without government interference and that the government should not favor one religion over another. Jefferson's ideas have had a lasting impact on the concept of religious freedom in the United States.