Did the Founding Fathers Intend for Separation of Church and
Posted: 2/12/2010 2:09:56 PM
By: Comfortably Anonymous
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Topic: History of this planet

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
Jan. 1. 1802.

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Did the Founding Fathers Intend for Separation of Church and
Posted: 2/12/2010 2:09:56 PM
By: Comfortably Anonymous
Times Read: 2,014
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Topic: History of this planet

That freedom is only abridged by the choice of the church. Churches may speak all the politics they want from the pulpit and enjoy the full benefits of the Constitution as long as they pay taxes on their revenue like the rest of us (Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17).

One could argue that by indulging in tax-exempt status, any church is ignoring the teachings of Jesus to acknowlege the earthly government that God has put in place (1 Timothy 2:1-2). I believe that, in order to help churches thrive financialy, an institutional ban on politics is reasonable in exchange for tax-exepmt status as this in no way impacts the church members from exercising their full individual Constiutional rights.

You can't have it both ways and be consistent with your beliefs.

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Did the Founding Fathers Intend for Separation of Church and
Posted: 2/12/2010 2:09:56 PM
By: Comfortably Anonymous
Times Read: 2,014
0 Dislikes: 0
Topic: History of this planet

It is amazing the damage that a few phuqtards with ignorant beliefs can have.

I always shake may head in amazement at the evolutionary naysayers.

I have found that asking them how antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria have come about so quickly usually shuts them up.

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