| mrstickball said: Funny you guys mention the separation of church and state, when it's never implied in the constitution or any federal document in the 1700's. |
You must be familiar with the first amendment. It is certainly implied by not allowing congress to make laws "..respecting an establishment of religion." I don't understand why anyone would make the argument that the framers of the constitution ever intended to make a state religion.. these words are very clear and have been upheld by courts for over 200 years.
Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to a Baptist congregation in Connecticut written in 1802, expanded upon this principle. The text of this letter is also very clear:
...
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.
...
There you have it.
A wall of separation.
Edit: Final-Fan already posted this excerpt from the Danbury letter. My bad, and well done, sir.
