Do you honestly think the U.S. founding fathers meant for their to be a separation of church and state....?

Question

as it exists today?

Don't get me wrong. The first amendment is a genius concept. However I think we've unmistakibly stepped outside the bounds of the implied meaning of the constitution on this issue.

Let's think for a minute why the founders would create this ammendment? Were they afriad that Christians were going to be indotrinating their children with rubbish? Where they worried that the Bible might be placed outside a courthouse? Did they fear a nativity scene might spook them in the night?

The simple answer is of course no. It's clearly obvious that the founding fathers meant for the NATIONAL government should never create a national religion. For a time, many states even had state-wide sanctioned religion.

My point is that the idea that the U.S. hasn't always been married to Christianity is a farce. To cite Thomas Jefferson's idea of seperation of church and state actually bolsters the position of religion in this country.

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 ammendment

It wasn't till a stretch interpretation of the 14th Amendment that this first amendment was applied to all state governments.

nondescript: Here is another quote from the same source you cite.

"Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign."

nondescript: Here is another quote from the same source you cite.

"Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign."

nondescript: Here is another quote from the same source you cite.

"Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign."

nondescript: Here is another quote from the same source you cite.

"Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governour of the Universe: And if a member of Civil Society, do it with a saving of his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign."

Answer 1

Yeah. Did you read the amendments? How about Thomas Jefferson's personal opinion on religion?

Answer 2

I've read Jefferson pretty extensively, and I think that was exactly his intent. He was clearly not a Christian and didn't feel that the state had any business in religion.

There were a fair number of non-Christians among the group and I do think that they sought to keep the state out of the business to protect all faiths. The congresses first act was to remove any reference to religions in the oaths they took when being sworn into office substituting "to protect and defend the Constitution" for earlier references to god. I would also point to the early treaty of Tripoli that clearly says the United States was not a Christian Nation.

You will find references by some of them that disagree with that. But on the whole, the intent seems very clear to me that they really did mean a "wall of separation between Church and state" just like Jefferson said they did.

Answer 3

I think you should read up on where they get the term Governor of the Universe. *wink* It's not what you think it is. And many of those men wrote letters and memoirs that show they leaned more on Deism than any particular religion.

The US hasn't been married to any religion. These Founding Fathers were Freemasons. (That's where you should look for the term...) They wanted a Secular Nation.

The 2 biggest reasons for the people of Europe coming here is Taxes and Religion. Religion ran Europe in one form another and determined the taxes on many common things in society. That is what they were trying to get away from. That is what they were trying to avoid when they were creating the foundations.

People bolster the position of religion... and they do so by trying to bring it into politics. Again, this is what they were trying to avoid. And yes, states had state-wide sanctioned religion... and they gave it up... look at the Puritans during that time. It was getting into the politics... they didn't want that.

Answer 4

Look at the history of who first came to this country. Not the explorers, but the common settlers. Many came here to escape religious persecution in their own country. Many came here because their home country had a state religion and it wasn't what they believed. Most of the founding fathers were not even christians in the traditional sense. Because they wanted a place where they could practice what they believed in peace, and they remembered how hard it was in their home country, they decided that this idea of separating church and state would solve this dilemma.

Answer 5

the project to hand is somewhat clouded. that's not definitely of no rely if or not they have been christian (that's beside the point), yet definitely no rely if or not they used christian values to stumbled on the rustic. between the concepts that the U. S. became consistent with, is the liberty of religion. lots of the communities that based the unique colonies have been extremist branches of christianity, fleeing persecution from state backed church homes. With this in concepts, the founding fathers p.c. to permit for the liberty to prepare any faith, offering that pronounced prepare did not infringe on the rights of others. people who declare that the founding fathers have been chrisitian, gain this in an attempt to income a generic and ethical intense-highway. they like to return the rustic to extra classic values (or people who they trust), and use this piece of fake counsel to income effect with well matched politicians, in an attempt to enact rules that shrink the liberty of all (to illustrate, they are consistently attempting to strip people of the properly suited to p.c. no rely if or not they are able to get an abortion). it extremely is a tactic used to sway people to their part. listed under are the information: the government, throughout the two Washington and Adam's presidency, pronounced very immediately that that's not a christian usa, in the Treaty of Tripoli, article 11. ..""by way of fact the government of the u . s . a . isn't, in any experience, based on the Christian faith...". besides, they base their declare on the announcement of Independence, which on an identical time as held in intense regard, isn't a legally binding checklist. Nowhere in the form do they reference a god or writer.

Answer 6

The first amendment does not say "separation of church and state"..it say Congress shall pass no laws to ESTABLISH A RELIGION. this does not mean that the Reps and President can not pray..this does not mean that the Ten Commandments can't be posted..it means that the Government can not adapt one religion and base LAWS to enforce it..see the rest of the amendment it says we have "FREEDOM OF RELIGION" and it also says I have "FREEDOM OF SPEECH"..however don't try to talk about God because then we have no freaking rights...doesn't make sense.

Answer 7

Yes, and if you don't believe me, read what James Madison said about the subject in his "Memorial and Remonstrance".

This letter was to oppose imposing a general tax for the support of “Teachers of the Christian Religion.” This sounds very similar to Bush's "Faith-based Initiative", which is funneling taxpayer money to organizations to proselytize. It outlines the dangers of mixing church and state and urges the representatives to keep them separate.

Answer 8

It would not really matter seeing as how the so calle"founding fathers" did nothing that would make anyone believe they were christians anyway. America is not a christian nation it is a hypocritcal nation built on death and lies. So who cares if there is a seperation of something that was never really there.

Answer 9

Um let's see...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
- First Ammendment -

Yeah, I think so... and forcing religion on someone else's children is very wrong to do...

Bryton: Yes, because bombing abortion clinics is one of the most morally pristine things someone can do. Give me a break...

Answer 10

The separation of Church and State was to protect the Church from the State. Not the ridiculous amendments that have been made that pretend to protect the State from the Church. That has resulted in a Society void of respect of Human Life and Human dignity. A Godless society of Heathens who live like animals.