The Separation of Church and State

In a past Facebook post Mel Miller says:

It is very interesting to note what Jefferson says regarding separation of church and state in his letter to the Danbury Baptist church, (origin of the phrase separation of church and state)....Note....

In English, the exact term is an offshoot of the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state", as written in Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. In that letter, referencing the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Jefferson writes: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & 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." Jefferson reflected his frequent speaking theme that the government is not to interfere with religion.[15]

The Bill of Rights was one of the earliest examples in the world of complete religious freedom (adopted in 1791, only preceded by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789) but it was interpreted as establishing a separation of Church and State only after the letter of Jefferson (see section United States for more details). At the time of the passage of the Bill of Rights, many states acted in ways that would now be held unconstitutional, some of them with official state churches. All of the early official state churches were disestablished by 1833.

Especially note the comment, "Jefferson reflected his frequent speaking theme that the government is not to interfere with religion."

It seems obvious when we look at the phrase in context of Jefferson's total writing, the concern was about the government declaring or enforcing a state religion. It was NOT about removing all "religion" or even "religious practices and beliefs" from government.

Note also Jefferson's phrase..."that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only and not opinions." This seems evident that banning religious displays on public property, for example, would be anathema to Jefferson, since banning them is based upon opinion, not on actions of the government to establish a state religion.

It is a terribly sad twisting of Jefferson's "ideals" to now have a government which feels it must interfere with religion and the practice thereof in so many areas of public life.

It saddens me that we have increasingly become a nation which so highly values a minority viewpoint, opinion, or belief, that the majority are forced to comply with the minority's viewpoint. This I think is contrary to everything the Declaration of Independence and Constitution set forth in establishing this nation.

The Source Text: Letter To The Danbury Baptists

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & 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 & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th. Jefferson

I must make this comment:

At the time Jefferson addressed this issue, Christianity was the religion of America. The possibility of Islam becoming a threat to Christianity in the United States was not even a remote thought. It was the different Christian sects that Jefferson spoke of, when he said government should stay out of it and never approve a state religion. It was the European wars between Catholics and Protestants that was fresh in his mind.

Islam is not just a religion. It certainly is not a "peaceful" religion, as Jihad, the forced conversion of non-Muslims or their beheading, is a major way of spreading their religion. Islam is a political force, a world-wide State that seeks to destroy and subjugate all other governments, religions and cultures.

Islam is Christianities opposite. The 1st and 2nd Great Commandments of Christianity are to love God and your fellow men. That is the direct opposite of the Islamic commandment to cut of the heads of anyone who refuses to convert to Islam.

The Muslim infiltration of American government, and the Muslim invasion of America is the worst possible thing that can happen to our nation. It should be stopped cold in its tracks. This Muslim pseudo-President, a traitor, needs to be removed. Every Muslim appointee in our goverment needs to also be removed. Islam should be the religion of non-citizens, and Muslims should be deported. The United States can only remain a free nation under the moral mantle of the Christian, Bible-based religion.

See: The Mythical "Wall of Separation"