You know, you'd think that this phrase that we were taught in school would have a more valid base. When this letter was written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists, he wasn't talking about keeping God out of politics. He was talking about making sure that we never went to the extent of claiming one religion as the state or countries religion. He knew that if the government did this, we would be no better off that the Quakers and other religious were in England and other countries. Jefferson had said: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."; ie., he meant that there should be no set religion for our country. Think of it this way. Thomas Jefferson was a Christian, and so were the other founding fathers. When they went to work on the Constitution they prayed for guidance. So why would he would he leave God out of politics, when God was a prime factor in the Constitution's creation and design.
2007-08-03 16:59:12 · 26 answers · asked by hbnlion2006 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Look, I'm not saying that our government must be ruled by Christians, ok? Hardly anyone would go for that, and we all know it. I grew overseas, surrounded by Muslims, Jehovah Witness, Hindus, and even Animistic Religions, so I'm used to diversity and have no problem with that. What I'm getting at is this. Why are we so eager to leave our beliefs and faith, whatever religion we belong to, out of who we are, especially in politics? I'm not saying that we should make our country have only one allowed religion. I'm completely against not giving people a choice of what to believe or whether or not to believe in anything at all. I just think that we are so eager to leave God, whoever God is to some people, that we're forgetting what really matters. What matters is that we're free to believe. Jefferson didn't mean to say that we should keep government and religion completely separate.....he was saying we shouldn't establish a religion ever as a state religion. That's all I'm getting at.
2007-08-04 19:02:40 · update #1
So, I made a slight spelling error. Well, considering the fact that I did this during moving, was really tired, but couldn't sleep, I think I did pretty darn well.....oh, and by the way, I already knew I made the spelling mistake when I took a look at any answers that came in, and noticed that I had spelled it wrong....and that was after I woke up the next morning. Plus, I was not asking for spelling help or critique. I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate it if I did that to you....so stay on the topic at hand please?
2007-08-07 08:36:49 · update #2
Well, I do not think that creation by 'intelligent design' or, by 'biogenesis/evoltution' should be taght in public schools.
I think, when it comes to the theories of life's origins, those subjects should be up to the decisions of the parents of each child.
Why?
Because, to the evolutionist/biogenesist, creation has no proof.
And to the creationist? life by chance is nothing more than a theory.
Why are we wasting our time and energy debating about life's origins, when we could just remove the conflict from our schools, allow the parents to tell their children what they believe, and let the schools concentrate on preparing the kids , to be able to read, write, and do math, thus preparing them to become productive members of society regardless of their beliefs?
2007-08-03 17:08:42 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Thomas Jefferson was a brilliant man. He was smart enough to look beyond himself. Not only did he realize that not everyone believed what he believed, but he also realized the things that religion can do. Religion has caused wars. It very likey that more people have been killed in the name of God than for any other reason. If Jefferson had allowed the government of his new nation to control religion, he knew that it would not last, despite that being what he believed.
For example, look into the Middle East. In the Dark Ages, Muslims had some of the most powerful civilizations in the world. Excluding the chinese, Muslim scientists created the most advanced technology of it's time. Had it not been for the Christian Crusades (meant to cleanse the holy land of infidels), and Religious Civil War, they would still be on top of the world. Both of these things were caused by religion controlling the government.
Another example, also involving muslims (I'm not racist I swear). Modern terrorists, like Osama Bin Laden, were supposedly Commanded By God to attack the United States. And now look, we're in their base killing their doodz. This is ALL caused by religion.
Jefferson KNEW that allowing the United States to control it's religion, BAD things would occur, so he disallowed it.
2007-08-04 00:13:28 · answer #2 · answered by Mozer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Are you talking about politics or government? Politics and government are completely different (at least in my mind)...to me, "politics" would be the personal ideas and beliefs that an individual has in regards to the best way to run a civilized society, while "government" would be the institutions in which the different functions of the government are carried out.
I have no problem with religion entering into a person's politics, but, as you quoted from Jefferson yourself (""Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."), it bears no place in government.
2007-08-04 00:11:18 · answer #3 · answered by the_way_of_the_turtle 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man"
"To talk of immaterial existences is to talk of nothings. To say that the human soul, angels go9d, are immaterial, is to say they are nothings, or that there is no god, no angels, no soul. I cannot reason otherwise...without plunging into the fathomless abyss of dreams and phantasms. I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence"
"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness the very existence of a God, because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason that that of blindfolded fear. "
-Thomas Jefferson
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy: ignorance and servility in the laity;, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution." - James Madison
"This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it" - John Adams
2007-08-04 15:58:38 · answer #4 · answered by answer faerie, V.T., A. M. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of the founding Fathers were actually "Deists." Who did not affirm the divinity of Christ or that belief in Jesus Christ was the only way to God. Yes, some were Christians, and religion did have a dominant place in the culture at the time, but Christians need to realize that the founding father's main concern was establishing a democracy, not a theocracy.
2007-08-04 00:10:12 · answer #5 · answered by keri gee 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They weren't all christians. You are being unconstitutional when you try to allow anything christian, but ignore the other religions. It doesn't say that we are a christian nation. It says we're free to practice all religions and also should never be forced to practice any particular one. You see it as an attack on christianity to remove "Under God" from the pledge, for example, but in reality it's making things right according to the constitution. You either include ALL religions or leave it out. Leaving it out is the simpler solution.
2007-08-04 00:05:55 · answer #6 · answered by Dethklok 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is impossible to have both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise of Religious Clause without a Separation of Church and State. And the Founding Fathers recognized that, even if they didn't put the phrase itself into the Bill of Rights--they didn't have to, since the concept is there by default.
2007-08-04 00:53:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about.
Jefferson was NOT a Christian as you so desperately want him to be. In fact, he once said: "There is not one redeeming feature in our superstition of Christianity. It has made one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites" You can actually look up information on what the Founding Fathers actually said. You don't have to regurgitate crap from pseudo-christian wannabee theocrats.
If they wanted God in the Constitution, they could've written a Constitution that MENTIONED God at least once. They didn't. Once again, you can actually READ the Constitution and see this!
Our laws are NOT based on the Bible, as much as theocrats want them to be.
Rev Al, you're a liar. The Madison and Henry quotes are known fabrications. Your political agenda has overridden any morality you might once have had. You're ripping off Dan Barton, an admitted fraud who lied about the history of this nation for political and financial gain. Both of you disgrace your faith.
Is your faith so weak that it can't stand without government support? Is your faith so weak that it can't support itself without lies? If so, what is it worth?
2007-08-04 00:16:23 · answer #8 · answered by au_catboy 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
You are wrong, and need to work on your spelling (separation) as well as your history. Religion is not only irrational, it has become a threat to civilization in our times. I have never respected religion itself, and lately I have extended that to no longer tolerating it. It is a form of terrorism and needs to be wiped out utterly.
Foxtrot is a prime example of religious ignorance and intolerance at work. He repeats common lies about evolution (that it's a 'theory' instead of a fact, which it is; and that it's about the origin of life, which it is *not*) and thereby tries to put it on the same invalid plane as creationism. Religion is EVIL and FALSE.
2007-08-04 00:09:45 · answer #9 · answered by hznfrst 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Well then, you're saying that you can have some religions in government, but not one of them in particular? How does that work?
Not all of the founding fathers were christian, in fact many of them weren't. Look, religion should not rule government. Religion is a very personal thing while government is for everyone, therefore, you cannot mix them.
2007-08-04 00:03:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
Jefferson and many of the Founding Fathers were not in any way Christian the way you think they were. Thomas Jefferson created his own bible. It consisted of a single gospel with all the supernatural things, the resurrection, and any miracles removed. (Don't believe me, read it yourself.) He saw Jesus as great moral teacher.
Does that sound like the kind of Christian you're thinking of? The very fact that there is no mention of Jesus anywhere in the Constitution or Declaration means something.
Seriously, this whole "Christian Nation" myth is way out of control. Religious Right-wingers are publishing their own pseudo-history of the United States that never was. The Founding Fathers were ENLIGHTENMENT INTELLECTUALS not fundamentalist Christians.
2007-08-04 00:02:10 · answer #11 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 9⤊ 3⤋