Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Educating Barry, Shemp, and MDixon

[MDixon6569]

In a message dated 9/13/06 6:22:07 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The "separation clause" you refer to comes from a letter to the Danbury Baptists from Thomas Jefferson, in which he explicitly *describes* the First Amendment's establishment/free exercise clauses as establishing "a wall of separation between church and state": "...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...." (emphasis added) Yes Judy ,  you have explained your logic concerning this matter before which has become the norm for most liberals and some conservatives in the later half of the 20th century. However, you are quoting Jefferson's letter to a Baptist preacher that was concerned that the government was going to establish a state religion as was often the norm in Europe, i.e. Anglican church in England, Catholic in France, Italy and Spain, Dutch Reform in Holland perhaps Lutheran in Germany, Russian Orthodox in Russia, Greek Orthodox in Greece etc.. Jefferson reassured the preacher that the government would not pass any laws establishing a state church or state religion. That is why the first amendment says the congress shall make no *laws* establishing religion , but quickly follows with, or prohibit the *free* exercise thereof or abridge *free speech*... But there is nothing in the Constitution that says that there is a separation of church and state meaning that the people who govern or are governed can not express religious belief on federally controlled property of which I gave the Congress as an example including many oaths that are taken when taking a federal office. That was never the intention.  __._,_.___ To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe __,_._,___