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To: Theyknow
Quotes by Thomas Paine in is 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense.

The conferring members being met, let their business be to frame a Continental Charter,.....securing freedom and property to all men, and above all things, the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; with such other matter as it is necessary for a charter to contain.

Another:

But where, say some, is the king of America? I'll tell you, friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the royal brute of Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other. But lest any ill use should afterwards arise, let the crown at the conclusion of the ceremony be demolished, and scattered among the people whose right it is.

One more:

Freedom hath been haunted round the globe. Asia, and Africa, have long expelled her. Europe regards her like a stranger, and England hath given her warning to depart. O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind.

66 posted on 05/01/2003 7:15:31 PM PDT by RAT Patrol (Congress can give one American a dollar only by first taking it away from another American. -W.W.)
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To: RAT Patrol
"Amendment I"

"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. "


Because it was so very critical to the formation of the new government the founding fathers made the prohibition against the establishment of a state religion the first statement in the first Amendment of the Bill of Rights. The deliberations you cite are important to learn of there reasoning but the ultimate decision was to allow the citizens FREEDOM of religious choice. There is no state religion in the USA because the constitution prohibits it, unambiguously. The reason you are unable to give an example of a LAW that establishes or prohibits a certain faith is because it does not exist. It does not exist because the founding father’s realized that it would doom the new nation.

If you want a country with a State religion move to Syria or Iran, those countries are certain that they have a lock on God’s will. How about prewar Afghanistan? They also knew just as surly as you do what God wants.

Freedom is what makes America great, individual choice in how to worship is critical to that freedom.
77 posted on 05/02/2003 6:19:31 AM PDT by Theyknow
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