Keep ‘em Separated
Today I heard someone state that “the separation of church and state” is not in the Constitution. I really wanted to rebutt that, but didn’t have quite enough knowledge to do so. Thanks to the Web and Wikipedia, I now have such knowledge and will be better prepared the next time I hear someone spewing this misinformation.
Here’s a a short bit about the origins of “the separation of church and state” and why our forefathers thought it important enough to spell it out in the First Amendment to our Constitution. If you have doubts as to the Constitutionality of the First Amendment, keep in mind that it was authored and ratified by many of the people who wrote the Constitution and makes up 1/10th of what we now refer to as The Bill of Rights.
Here’s the First Amendment in it’s entirety:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” - The First Amendment to the Unites States Constitution.
Now to me, that seems pretty straight forward. The government cannot make a law that respects, (I read that as endorse or support) an establishment of religion (aka church), or prohibit the free exercise thereof…
I have heard arguments that isn’t exactly what the founding fathers meant. But let’s look first at what George Washington wrote to the Touro Synagogue, the country’s first Jewish congregation in 1790, the year before the First Amendment was ratified.
“All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it were by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” - George Washington
It is apparent that Washington wanted to convey the idea of a Government founded on tolerance, with no sanction to bigotry, no persecution for beliefs, only that those who live here demean themselves as good citizens. Not good Christians, not good Anglicans, not good Baptists, just good citizens.
Step forward about a decade and Thomas Jefferson writes a letter to the Danbury Baptists clarifying the reason behind the First Amendment, and specifically mentioning separation.
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between church and State” - Thomas Jefferson
If you doubt he really meant a separation of church and state, then please go read the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom that Jefferson wrote in 1779.
I could quote a number of more sources including religious leaders of the time, that obviously stood for the separation of church and state, but then you won’t have any reason to read my sources and draw your own conclusion.
Go read, educate yourself, even just a little, about the origins of our freedoms and stand up and speak the truth when people start spewing misinformation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Statute_for_Religious_Freedom
digg_url = “http://antonolsen.com/2007/06/17/keep-em-separated”;
June 18th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Anton,
I agree that the separation of church and state needs to stand and this is certainly a topic that deserves further civil discussion between parties who disagree. Perhaps this could be the start of one of those conversations for while I agree with the principle I disagree with the conclusion. To the above quotes I would add the following from our founders.
John Adams stated, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington stated, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”
“The Law given from Sinai [The Ten Commandments] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code.” John Quincy Adams. Letters to his son.
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.” Benjamin Franklin, Constitutional Convention of 1787
“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” Patrick Henry, May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses
Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God [Exodus 18:21]. . . . If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted . . . If our government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.” Noah Webster, The History of the United States
I agree wholeheartedly that we should keep them separated. I will never seek to silence one who disagrees with me and will readily defend their freedom to speak. Neither will I stand idly by and be silenced by those who may or may not be offended by the simple truth that Christian men and women secured the right for all people to believe as they will.
John
June 20th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Fundamentalists of any sort (Muslim, Christian or otherwise) seldom care about the rights of others. They only care about power and control. Without their fundamentalist following they are just poor crazy people on the street proselytizing to the public. With the following they are powerful, able to influence governments and push through their will with the money of their misbegotten followers.
Our forefathers knew best about why religion should be a constitutional right. However, these days our “moral majority” would probably like to lock up anyone who isn’t white and protestant.
“Religion, as well as reason, confirms the soundness of those principles on which our government has been founded and its rights asserted.” –Thomas Jefferson
“Reason” folks…most of the people possessing reason these days are too tired to speak up.
“Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to God alone. I inquire after no man’s, and trouble none with mine.” –Thomas Jefferson
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:55 am
A superficial or cursory reading of the First Amendment to the Constitution, along with a pre-disposition towards one preference, could easily allow the reader to conclude what they like. It is important, however, to understand not only the precise words of the Amendment, but what motivated the Founding Fathers to incorporate it into the Constitution.
Besides and perhaps more important than the business interests in the colonies, religious freedom and the escape from religious intolerance was the primary motivating factor for most early American immigrants. They were fleeing the Church of England and the Catholic Church in Europe, both of which were integral with the civil governments. Regardless of which held the upper hand, Church or State, the marriage of the two as in England and the European countries, deprived the populous of religious freedom. It was religious freedom the early colonists were seeking when they came to America.
The First Amendment’s text is carefully worded to prevent the establishment of a “State” religion - like those of England and Europe. It prohibits ONLY Congress from MAKING LAWS that would “Respect an establishment of religion.” Any other religious act or action other than a ‘law passed by Congress’ is NOT prohibited by the First Amendment. In fact, quite the contrary is true. Congress shall make no law “prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (religion). One can practice their religion anywhere, anytime. This includes government buildings: courtrooms, public schools, and even the in Congress.
To even suggest that complete and utter “separation of Church and State” (which appears NOWHERE in the Constitution) was the intent of the First Amendment, displays either an insidious attempt to alter the truth of the Founding Father’s purpose, or genuine ignorance of who they were, where they came from, and what they were trying to accomplish in this great American experiment.
The very men who produced the Constitution began their “Civil” meetings with prayer, and utilized portions of the 10 Commandments as the cornerstones for civil law. Without religion, what is the basis of civil law? Would pedophilia be legal if the child consents? What would be wrong with adultery? etc., etc. Pure philosophy can only produce logical laws to prevent one person from harming another or depriving them of their property. Any law not dealing with harm or theft, is morality based. Where does morality come from? … Religion.
Judeo-Christian religions are the dominant religious faiths in America, and are therefore the source of the morality that underlies our laws. Throughout history, in every organized nation and civilization, the dominant religion(s) have always been the foundation for the law. We are the same. What is different in America is the legal Constitutional principle designed to prevent any one particular religion or denomination from becoming “married” to the state, and then begin suppressing the free exercise of other denominations or religions. That is what the First Amendment does. That was its intention and purpose.