[Winona Online Democracy]
I don't have a source for this on hand, but I believe the phrase originated in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to a religious organization called the Danbury Baptists, who were a religious minority in the the area where they lived and were afraid of suffering state persecution because of this. Jefferson responded to them, stating that in his view a "wall of separation between church and state" should be created to prevent government from engaging in religious persecution. The phrase is generally interpreted as being an expression of the intent behind the "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment, that it is not the place of government to promote religious belief. >From: "Duane M. Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Phil Carlson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >CC: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [Winona] Faith-Based >Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 12:56:31 -0600 > >Phil, >I am not too sure of the origin of "separation of church and state". I >think that it was first used by Thomas Jefferson in some correspondence >with someone (unremembered to me). It has been later used in several US >Supreme Court cases, but I think that it was used to paraphrase the Court's >then interpretation of those clauses in the 1st amendment. Sorry that I >can't be of more help. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Phil Carlson > To: Winona Online Democracy > Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 1:02 PM > Subject: [Winona] Faith-Based > > > I agree with Erin Benedict's very articulate comments on faith-based >organizations. We can all appreciate the work they do, but we should not >let the government support them. I am also very glad there are passionate >young people willing to do the important work that our social service >agencies perform. It too is based on faith, but a faith in humanity, not a >particular religious faith. > > It would be well to correct a minor part of Erin's comments. Our >country did not start out based on "division between church and state" (a >statement that is not in our Constitution or Bill of Rights), but rather >"freedom of religion" and against "establishment" of a religion (which >phrases are in the Bill of Rights). The phrase "separation of church and >state" was in some of the Founding Fathers' writings or maybe in later >court cases. Perhaps Judge Peterson or another learned scholar can set us >straight on the exact words and their origins. > > - Phil Carlson, Mpls _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp --------------- This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe All messages sent to the list must be signed with your actual name. Posting of commercial soliticitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems or questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
