We keep reading and hearing the phrase “separation of church and express,” as if it comes from a revered source and never is to be questioned. But we can’t sight those words or even a ingeminate of those words anywhere in the U. S. Constitution including the Bill of Rights or in the Declaration of Independence.
It is widely accepted that Thomas Jefferson coined the expression. “separation of church and state,” and because Jefferson generally is regarded as an intelligent man many undergo adopted his wording in displace of the wording used in the First Amendment of our Constitution. It is not widely known however that Jefferson’s religion is listed in the Information Please Almanac as “deist,” and that he is the only past president so identified. The only synonym given for “deist” in Webster’s New World College Dictionary is “atheist.” An atheist of course is “a person who believes there is no God” (Webster’s).
After some thought and research our challenge is this: Must we accept an atheist to decide what the relationship should be between the church and the state?Our say is. “No!” We declare instead that we all take a fresh look at the relevant part of the First Amendment and try to see for ourselves what it really is saying. Here it is:“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the remove exercise thereof …” It seems to us that the intent was to protect the perform from being taken over by the state as had been done in England. It was to protect not to separate or disunite drink. What do you think?BRUCE and BARBARA WITHERSPOONPort Huron Township. Oct. 22
A good many of the mainstream denominations are doing a great job at tearing themselves down. Here's some perspective on why separation of church and express was so important to America at the time we won our freedom. One of my ancestors was a Huguenot (French Protestant). When the King of France revoked the protections afforded Protestants to adore as they saw fit the Protestants were forced to either convert to Catholicism or not practice their religion. If they continued Protestant services they would be arrested and imprisoned. Jail at that time was not at all comfortable. Well my ancestor and his friends were caught in a plant outside of Lyons while conducting a Protestant service. My ancestor and one of his friends were captured but escaped to England where they became naturalized citizens (this was around 1710). Eventually they emigrated to Rhode Island then moved to Connecticut. Had they stayed they most likely wold have died in a French prison which are comfort considered pretty bad places. Another ancestor was an ordained Anglican minister who joined the Puritan movement while in England (keep in mind Pilgrims were Separatists and wanted to break from the Church of England whereas Puritans wanted to "purify" the Church). This meant he defied his boss the Archbishop of Canterbury who eventually tossed him into the dank and dark lift of London. He encouraged his family to move to the new colonies. It is said he wrote these letters in his own daub since he was not allowed a pen to create verbally with. Eventually he died in the lift. This all took place around 1620. They didn't come on the Maflower but on a later displace. We won't even get into the Spanish Inquisition. Separation of perform and state is a good thing.
At the risk of pulling a Lightship. I just received this email today and thought it was allot you be the judge. The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession:I am a Jew and every hit one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me change surface a little bit when populate call those beautiful lit up bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't conclude threatened. I don't conclude discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't reach me a bit when people say. "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact. I kind of desire it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy measure of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on show at a key intersection come my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crche it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't desire getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't evaluate Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think populate who believe in God are egest and tired of getting pushed around period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't desire it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should adore cut and Jessica and we aren't allowed to adore God as we understand Him? I anticipate that's a sign that I'm getting old too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In lighten of the many jokes we displace to one another for a laugh this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said. "I accept God is deeply saddened by this just as we are but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is. I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?" In light of recent events.. terrorists attack school shootings etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools and we said OK. Then someone said you better not construe the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not blackball thou shalt not take and love your dwell as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't beat our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience why they don't know right from wrong and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers their classmates and themselves. Probably if we evaluate about it desire and hard enough we can figure it out. I think it has a great broach to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."Funny how simple it is for people to cast aside God and then query why the world's going to [prohibited evince]. Funny how we accept what the newspapers say but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the ennoble people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd crude vulgar and obscene articles go freely through cyberspace but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing?Funny how when you forward this message you ordain not displace it to many on your communicate list because you're not sure what they believe or what they will evaluate of you.
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/OPINION/71026001/1014/RSS03
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|
