[hinckley buzzard]

"...it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other."

Guess which state constitution this comes from.

[TexasJackFlash]

It comes from James Madison and the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776). The term "Christian forbearance" is so vague that it could mean anything or nothing.

The duty to practice Christian forbearance love and charity is not a duty owed only to God. It is a duty men "owe towards each other." It is not a religious duty, but a secular duty.

The provision does grant or imply that the government of Virginia had any authority over religion. Whatever "Christian forbearance" meant to James Madison, he believed that mixing religion with politics (such as the establishment by law of a duty to contribute to the financial support of Christian teachers) turns "Christian forbearance" into "animosity and jealousy."