Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists The Final Letter, as Sent To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.. . . and that is the ONLY reference in the founding era to a “wall of separation” between church and state. The First Amendment is the only real reference upon which to judge public policy.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.
For a state to pave playgrounds of religious and secular schools on a non-discriminatory basis is far from being an an “establishment” of religion. Discriminating against church schools is far more like “prohibiting free exercise” than it is like “establishing” religion.
- Amendment 1:
- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
For those of you who don’t think are founders were Christians. This is from the original Missouri Constitution in 1820. It is also a parallel to Jefferson’s letter.
4. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to
the dictates of their own consciences; that no man can be compelled to erect, support, or
attend any place of worship, or to maintain any minister of the gospel, or teacher of
religion; that no human authority can control or interfere with the rights of conscience; that
no person can ever be hurt, molested, or restrained in his religious profession or
sentiments, if he do not disturb others in their religious worship.
5. That no person, on account of his religious opinions, can be rendered ineligible to any
office of trust or profit under this state; that no preference can ever be given by law to any
sect or mode of worship; and that no religious corporation can ever be established in this
state.
I cannot find that in the present Constitution. It would be interesting to know what year and/or revision took it out. BVB