Best Wishes,

Jill

“Wall of separation? Hah! I’ve got your wall of separation…!”

Jill

I agree with you: when churches become political clubs, they definitely should lose their tax exempt status. In fact since many such organizations receive public monies from the CFBCI’s scattered throughout the Departments, I would argue that their tax-exempt status should be at an end anyway.

The story you relate about the congregant and his Kerry sticker is very sad, and pretty emblematic of the ostracism such congregations impose on political dissent.

Most believers feel stongly that their faith is a part of their politics. It would make sense to recognize that reality by withdrawing any priveledged position of religious organizations. I’d be interested in other’s opinions.

Thanks,

Jill

You are just factually wrong since Jefferson never believed in a Christian God who has a personal relationship with the faithful. His contempt for religion is manifest as evidenced inter alia by his authorship of his own Bible which cut away most of the nonsense of the King James version. If the historical truth appears to you to be “Christian bashing” and hence a threat to your faith, that is more revealing of your faith than of the truth.

When Christians oppress others or try to impose their beliefs by the raw application of power, they well deserve any bashing that comes their way.

Its a matter of the historical record that Jefferson was a deist; but his religious beliefs have nothing to do with what he felt about the dangers of church/state entanglement. One can be an ardent believer and still believe in the principle of separation.

Believe me, I know the background and text of the letter to the Danbury Baptists. Jefferson was no friend of religion and completely believed in the separation of government and religion as did his contemporary, James Madison. Why else would Jefferson have written to von Humbolt: “History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.” So spare me some half-cocked, right- wing reinterpretation of historical fact like he was “just using the language of the day.” Like most right-wing ideology, it only appeals to the unlettered.

Mr. President

To messers Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem & 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 & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more & 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, and 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 and state. [Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorised only to execute their acts, I have refrained from presenting even occasional performances of devotion presented indeed legally where an Executive is the legal head of a national church, but subject here, as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect.] 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 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.

(signed) Thomas Jefferson
Jan.1.1802.