This post is dedicated to
mtngirlsouth. I just read a post
which taught me more about Thomas Jefferson, author of The United States Constitution, than I ever knew before. Jefferson's views on Christianity are very similar to my own. Her post is long, but it, and the links it includes, are well worth reading. I include below a couple of excerpts, and a link to the original post.
"
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."
"the successful experiment made under the prevalence of that delusion on the clause of the constitution, which, while it secured the freedom of the press, covered also the freedom of religion, had given to the clergy a very favorite hope of obtaining an establishment of a particular form of Christianity thro' the
U. S.; and as every sect believes its own form the true one, every one perhaps hoped for his own, but especially the Episcopalians & Congregationalists.The returning good sense of our country threatens abortion to their hopes, & they believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly; for I have sworn upon the altar of god, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. "
Please take the time to read her entire post, and the links she provides. It will give you an incredible understanding of our Constitution, and the great mind that it sprang from.
Comments (8)
Thanks for pointing me to it. Very wisely written...
She has written a very good post on the matter.
I sometimes wish that one day there would be no such thing as a separation between church and state, for since we have torn the two apart, we have been in chaos and strife. Maybe you young people are athiests, I do not know, but Jefferson never thought like what you say he did. Go to Washington, D.C., and visit the Library of Congress and look in their archives. Maybe then you may be enlightened as to what he and indeed other American people and politicians of his day thought on these matters. Until then, don't say something you honestly know nothing about.
S.C.
It wouldn't only be a mistake to mix the church and the state... it would be a tragedy.
I like what Christian author/speaker/professor/sociologist, Tony Campolo says about it:
Mixing the church and state would be like mixing Ice-cream and Horse manure. The manure will be fine, but who would want to eat the ice-cream?
@cllns_smm - Which of Jefferson's writing and thoughts are you alluding to? Throughout his writings his views changed and you can make anything you wish to of them... As you would seem to give us the impression that you are an imminent Jefferson scholar I ask you to not be so vague and enlighten us. Especially considering that, as is common knowledge: his views were continuously changing on just about EVERYTHING from religion to the formation of the country he helped found.
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@Touch_me_take_me - Is that a trick question? Becasue if it is, then allow me to enighten you as to how I find my info. I don't need a bunch of athiests and agnostics to find information, as you apparently do. I go online, I find out about things, and I pay attention to religious scholars who know more about this country's history than you or your fellow athiests and agnostics do. Ciao!
S.C.