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To: RightWhale

Actually, if you read relative papers, including the letter to the Danbury Baptists by Thomas Jefferson, the "wall" referred to so often in recent years only meant that Congress could not regulate individual states' religious affairs. Individual states, according to writings at the time, were free to conduct their own religious affairs including establishing State churches.


168 posted on 12/23/2005 6:40:29 AM PST by Spacetrucker (The truth always hurts more...)
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To: Spacetrucker

That would be similar to Federal property requirements for office holders and electors. Rather than put such property requirements in the Constitution, they left it up to the States, which already had such requirements.


170 posted on 12/23/2005 9:52:32 AM PST by RightWhale (pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
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To: Spacetrucker
What does the letter to the Danbury Baptists by Thomas Jefferson have to do with the Madison doctine that "Religion or the duty we owe to God is not within the cognizance of the government's authority" adopted by the Supreme Court in 1878?
194 posted on 01/13/2006 9:51:04 AM PST by FredFlash
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To: Spacetrucker

It is true that Jefferson believed Congress could not regulate individual state religious affairs. Jefferson held that the U. S. Government had no authority whatsoever over religion or the duty owed the Creator. The federal government could neither protect nor infringe on the right of conscience.

However, Jefferson held that the underlying reason for the U. S. Government to have no authority over the duty owed the Creator was to prevent one man from infringing on another man's obligation to obey his conscience. The Satan worshipers in New England, on the other hand, held that the the underlying reason was to protect a State's authority to pretend to be God and tell a man what God wanted him to do.

Needless to say - it was Jefferson's view that prevailed.

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DUTY WE OWE TO GOD, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE OF THE DUTY WE OWE THE CREATOR.


198 posted on 01/13/2006 11:16:38 AM PST by FredFlash
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