Quote:
Originally Posted by Fundamentalist
 There is no irony. Every new problem we have is dealt with laws, we now have pedophile laws to deal with this growing sin in our culture, no different to what Jefferson did to implement the "separation of church and state" to combat that corrupt non-biblical approach to establishing a church. MY argument is that the separation of church and state we see today IS NOT what Jefferson intended in that letter. Even Jefferson recognized God's authority was better than man's |
Fundamentalist, your statement "
Even Jefferson recognized God's authority was better than man's" do not naturally assume that this meant the "Christian" concept of God, for Jefferson held contempt for the Christian clergy and what they professed.
Just a few quotes from Jefferson:
They [the clergy] 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. But this is all they have to fear from me: and enough, too, in their opinion. -Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush, Sept. 23, 1800
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. -Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, Dec. 6, 1813.
You say you are a Calvinist. I am not. I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Ezra Stiles Ely, June 25, 1819
Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814
All you have to do is read some of the letters that Jefferson wrote, you come to the understanding what he meant by the "separation of church and state".
The Danbury Baptists were a religious minority in Connecticut, and they complained that in their state, the religious liberties they enjoyed were not seen as immutable rights, but as privileges granted by the legislature — as "favors granted."
In Jefferson reply he did not address their concern in the states establishment of religion but only on the federal government position on the establishment of religion, where he used the phrase "wall of separation between church and state". Jefferson saw no benefit of having religion involved in government at all, but he also felt that a persons personal religious beliefs should not exempt him from serving in the government.
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I could use some money too. That's a little more important right now. Can you ask god to help a brother out. HE doesn't listen to me. 
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