On Sun, March 25, 2007 11:08 am, Gabriel Sechan wrote: > > > >>From: "Lan Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >>On Sun, March 25, 2007 8:34 am, Karl Cunningham wrote: >> > Lan Barnes wrote: >> >> On Sat, March 24, 2007 4:39 pm, Ralph Shumaker wrote: >> >>> Todd Walton wrote: >> >>> >> >>>> If I were a Founding Father, I'd have added something about >>separation >> >> of Economy and State, to go along with Church and State. I'd have to >> >> think about it some more, though. >> >>> >> >>> The Founding Fathers said nothing about separation of Church and >> State >> >> *except* to make it clear that the State must stay out of the Church, >> >> >> >> It's true that there are no constitutional prohibitions on churches >> (or >> >> labor unions or Boy Scout troops or just about any group) from >> >> participating in politics in an organized, legal manner. This is as >> it >> >> should be. >> >> >> >> However, to understand the intent of the founders on any topic, one >> >> needs >> >> to read their other writings in which they discuss their goals in >> >> drafting >> >> the rather spare language of the constitution. Much of this is >>collected >> >> in the Federalist Papers and the less well known Anti-Federalist >> Papers >> >> (the commentary of Franklin and other dissenters). >> > >> > There is also the Treaty of Tripoli. See >> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli >> > and scroll down to the article 11 part. >> > [This part of the treaty was] approved by President John Adams and >> > Secretary of State Timothy Pickering and ratified by the Senate. >> > >> > Karl >> > >> > >> >>Gawd but I love this list! Thanks -- I learned something. >> > > Also, a recent article on Cecil Adam's Straight Dope mentions Jefferson's > opinions on the matter: > > http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfreereligion.htm > > Jefferson himself stated the idea of a "wall of separation". Given that > he > drafted the Virginia state constitution that has the same principle, and > which our 1st amendment is based on, I trust his interpretation. > > Gabe >
This I already knew about, but thanks for the link. IIRC Jefferson's tombstone, at his request, mentioned the three things he was most proud of. Among them was Virginia's religious freedom law. http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/hall2/jeff1s.htm Jefferson was way cool. John Kennedy once had a dinner for all the living American nobel laureates. In his opening remarks at the dinner, Kennedy said that never had such a collection of America's genius graced the White House "except when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." -- Lan Barnes SCM Analyst Linux Guy Tcl/Tk Enthusiast Biodiesel Brewer -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
