Daily Quote 8/15/2007
"The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall; it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure Christian principles will always stay in government."
-Thomas Jefferson, Jan 1, 1802, address to the Danbury Baptists
-Thomas Jefferson, Jan 1, 1802, address to the Danbury Baptists
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What little did he know... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
What little did he know...
I posted this to show how our founding fathers wanted and planned for it to be!
Just goes to show you how little our current government cares about it![:(]0 -
quote:Originally posted by git_r_done
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
What little did he know...
I posted this to show how our founding fathers wanted and planned for it to be!
Just goes to show you how little our current government cares about it![:(]
+1
rider0 -
Link to text of Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Babtists:
http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html
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 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.
Mr. Jefferson never wrote '...but that wall is a one directional wall; it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure Christian principles will always stay in government.'
Mr. Jefferson, as noted in the actual text above, was standing by his convictions 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..."
No doubt some of the founders, like some of the Religious Right today would have supported a theocracy. Thomas Jefferson certainly was not one of them and most certainly did not support the concept that 'Christian Principles will always stay in government'.
Jefferson was one of the most secular of the bunch, a true believer in religious freedom. IMO he would have supported current trends in deChristianisation, particularly in light of the myriad of faiths that exist in the U.S. today.
Deliberately misquoting the founders serves no purpose what-so-ever.0 -
quote:Originally posted by git_r_done
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
What little did he know...
I posted this to show how our founding fathers wanted and planned for it to be!
I don't agree with it and it also doesn't mean there weren't wrong about it. Any kind of religion in government is not a good idea, we have plenty of examples that can show it and plenty of arguments based on history against it. It is one rare thing where I think Jefferson was wrong. Post above demonstrate my ignorance. [:I]0 -
tsr:
I had not read the actual text of the letter until today either. The quote simply did not sound like Thomas Jefferson, and required a bit of checking.
Frankly, I too was heartened by what I discovered.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Don McManus
tsr:
I had not read the actual text of the letter until today either. The quote simply did not sound like Thomas Jefferson, and required a bit of checking.
Frankly, I too was heartened by what I discovered.
I found it as I posted it on the web.
I only knew what I read.
I am sorry to all if the quote was wrong!0 -
How many times do you think our founding fathers have rolled over in their graves to this point? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by git_r_done
quote:Originally posted by Don McManus
tsr:
I had not read the actual text of the letter until today either. The quote simply did not sound like Thomas Jefferson, and required a bit of checking.
Frankly, I too was heartened by what I discovered.
I found it as I posted it on the web.
I only knew what I read.
I am sorry to all if the quote was wrong!
Heck, it sounded good.0 -
The Constitution is a "living breathing" document. Modern reads indicate the Founding Fathers promoted Socialism. 0
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