[jimt]

Thomas Jefferson wouldn't have.

"I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another." --Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1799. ME 10:78

"To suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles on supposition of their ill tendency is a dangerous fallacy which at once destroys all religious liberty, because he being of course judge of that tendency will make his opinions the rule of judgment and approve or condemn the sentiments of others only as they shall square with or differ from his own." --Thomas Jefferson: Statute for Religious Freedom, 1779. ME 2:302, Papers 2: 546

"Our Constitution... has not left the religion of its citizens under the power of its public functionaries, were it possible that any of these should consider a conquest over the consciences of men either attainable or applicable to any desirable purpose." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to New London Methodists, 1809. ME 16:332

Next opinion?

[rwfromkansas]

I will try to respond later (dorm internet is messed up), but will say that the first one actually proves my point. A "it appears to be ascendant over another religion" is not enough. It must be legally created.

I will say in other letters, Jefferson has stated that he believes the states have the right to deal in religious matters.

And, he and Madison both did so as state legislators (and the bill was not repealed with a purging of anti-First Amendment laws). They introduced and passed a bill to punish sabbath breakers.