Atheists will you read Jeffersons "supposed" separation of Church and state letter?

Question

His letter was personal and not part of the constitution.The letter is not a help for the banning of christianity.
http://www.earstohear.net/Separation/letter.html
http://www.usconstitution.net/jeffwall.html

The so called "separation of church and state letter is the main "tool" the ACLU and,atheists and anti-christians have used to remove christian symbols (including the 10 commandments) from public places.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Jefferson's (also found in the so called "separation of church and state" letter.

Sparkles,Full Gospel Shirley,Crimmson andclover,and Changed thanks for the kind words and keep running the race for Jesus.Keep strong as soldiers for the Lord.God bless.

Answer 1

Great Robert,
Would be very interested, There is a War going on and I am glad to see some are not blind to this!
GOD Bless!

Answer 2

1) Sorry, you are wrong. Jefferson's letter isn't a "tool" for anything--all it does is give a name to the concept that is clearly enshrined in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

2) The Ten Commandments are NOT a Christian symbol at all. Christianity explicitly believes that the death of Christ supercedes the Ten Commandments.

3) No one is trying to ban Christianity. Christians are entirely free to practice their religion--that freedom is not infringed upon or endangered by allowing non-Christians to exercise the same inalienable right.

4)On the other hand that silly Ten Commandments statue clearly inferfere with non-Christian's right to the free practice of their religious beliefs (as well as their 4th amendment rights to Due Process, to boot).

Answer 3

It IS in the Constitution. It does not speak of a ban.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."

In the letter, Jefferson stated "...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"

From your link "Is not Jefferson saying the legislature can not favor a specific religion and it can not prohibit religious exercise?"

Yes. He is saying exactly that. But notice the first part which states "can not favor a specific religion".. this means that the US cannot, for example, fund one religion and not another. Or have one religion's rules posted in a courthouse and not include all other religions. To do so would be to favor that religion, which IS against the Constitution.

The "free exercise thereof" does not mean the freedom to create a state church, but the freedom to practice one's religion without fear.

The "separation" protects religion from government intrusion, the state from church intrusion, and all people from being persecuted for their beliefs.

Answer 4

Banning of chrisitanity? Not sure at all where you're getting that from. In reading the letter I think Jefferson makes a very clear point that government should play no part in an individuals right to pursue whatever religion they wish. To me he is clearly stating that government should not be involved in the business of religion in any way, for or against. And I agree.

Answer 5

But the First Amendment is a basis for reducing the level of governmental action that selectively favors Christianity now that the US is a more pluralistic nation. Using a phrase from the letter merely clarifies the meaning of establishment.

Answer 6

That's odd I don't see God mentioned in the Constitution.

Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination.

-Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom

Answer 7

"His letter was personal and not part of the constitution.The letter is not a help for the banning of christianity."

if you seek to convince atheists of that, well, i for one already knew that and i'm not even american. but so what? who's asking for the banning of christianity? paranoid much?

""US is in no sense based on christian religion" - U.S. Constitution."

uh, treaty of tripoli wasn't it? cripes, don't you americans know anything about your own history?

"remove christian symbols (including the 10 commandments) from public places."

ah, this is what you mean by 'banning christianity'. do you really need your graven images? isn't god everywhere?

Answer 8

I'm not american (like most of the world) so it's really of no interest to me

however I do know that separation of church and state has nothing to do with banning any religion. I'm surprised that you don't

Why do you hate all non xians?

Answer 9

I'm sorry. "Banning of Christianity"? Come again? Do you really think that you aren't attempting to ban every other religion and non-religion on earth? Come on, Robert! Get real! I think your Jesus would have abhorred your iconical worship and been disgusted by your intolerance.

Answer 10

Atheists aren't trying to ban Christianity, genius.

Answer 11

sure ill read it.

i cant say ill expect much though...

okay...read it...now what?

no one is trying to ban christianity. if that is what you think some are trying to do youre wrong.

were just trying to make the level of religiosity even..as opposed to christians which perfer an unfair balance in their favor.