With all the talk about religion in American politics, I felt compelled to look deeper into the subject - specifically, what did America's founders have to say and why is the "wall" so contentious today after nearly two and a half centuries?
In my search, I came across a great read (IMHO) - The Separation of Church and State: Writings on a Fundamental Freedom by America's Founders, by Forrest Church. The book spans a thirty year history, 1772 - 1802, and dramatically documents one of the profound debates in the Nations history - religion and the State. It takes you back in time and for a moment puts you in the heads of those at the very founding of our Nation. In fact, this easy and fascinating read will quickly illustrate why this book is important for everyone to read in today's political climate...no exceptions. Time for some homework!
More below...
A few morsels to wet the appetite:
Isaac Backus -
If the constitution of this government gives the magistrate no other authority than what belongs to civil society, we desire to know how he ever came to impose any particular way of worship, upon any town or precinct whatsoever? And if man has a right to his estate, his liberty, and his family, notwithstanding his non-conformity to the magistrates'way of worship, by what authority has any man had his goods spoiled, his land sold, or his person imprisoned, and thereby deprived of the enjoyment both of his liberty and his family, for no crime at all against the peace or welfare of the state, but only because he refuse to conform to. Or to support an imposed way of worship, or an imposed minister?...
Caleb Wallace -
Therefore, we ask no ecclesiastical establishments for ourselves; neither can we approve of them when granted to others. This indeed would be giving exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges to one set (sect) of men without any special public services to the common reproach and injury of every other denomination. And for the reasons recited, we are induced earnestly to entreat that all laws now in force in this Commonwealth which countenance religious domination may be protected in the full exercise of their several modes of worship and exempted from all taxes for the support of any church whatsoever further than what may be agreeable to their own private choice or voluntary obligation. This being done, all partial and invidious distinctions will be abolished , to the great honor and interest of the State; and everyone be left to stand or fall according to merit, which can never be the case so long as any one denomination is established in preference to others.
Thomas Jefferson -
...the severest contest in which I have ever been engaged.
I have considered it as a matter between every man and his Maker, in which no other, and far less the public, had a right to intermeddle.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative 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 would "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and 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.
James Madison
We THE SUBSCRIBERS, citizens of the said Commonwealth, having taken into serious consideration a bill printed by order of the last Session of General Assembly, entitled "A Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion," and conceiving that the same, if finally armed with the sanctions of a law, will be a dangerous abuse of power, are bound as faithful members of a free state to remonstrate against it, and to declare the reasons by which we are determined. We remonstrate against said bill...
The religion, then, of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right....
Yesterday, a good friend of mine and I were discussing the growing concern of the power of the Executive branch in relation to spying on American citizens. He being very conservative and me being very liberal we both came to the same conclusion...the Executive branch is out of control and we are both none to happy about it. As we discussed the issue of checks and balances the topic of religion bubbled to the surface. Once again we rallied around the basic premise that we as American's should be free to practice any religion we choose but free from any establishment of religion...in other words the first amendments "no law respecting an establishment of religion" clause must be kept in tact! We talked at length about how any establishment of religion would be destructive to the very core of our Republic and how it would go contrary to what the Founders intended.
In conclusion, after nearly an hour covering various topics it was very clear to me that the integrity and preservation of the US Constitution is on many peoples minds. It also became very clear that it should be a plank in the platform for the Democratic Party in 2006 and every election here after. It resonates to the very core of our being as a Nation. Conspicously, I find no such plank on The Democratic Party web site. What's up with that? What are your thoughts?