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Originally posted by RainbowHed:
Seperation of church and state is supposed to go BOTH ways. Having a country that is run by the "beliefs" of a group is exactly what the Evangelical Christian Mob warns us about all the time from Islam, Mormons, Catholics,Wicca, etc. I find that pretty ironic too!!
No, the Separation of Church and State is just one way, to prevent government from meddling in religious practices to force a political belief by the establishment of a national religion. The phrase "Separation of Church and State" has been so grossly perverse from its original meaning, and taken out of context that it is unrecognizable compared to what was originally written in the private personal letter penned by Jefferson to a specific group...yeah, it isn't an official document. Naturally with the governments inability to establish a religion, the involvement in the church in government affairs, would simply stop at its involvement, since one belief system can not be established as the one the government would deem the nations way of belief.
Jefferson wrote the letter to the Danbury Baptists on January 1, 1802 in response to their letter written on October 7, 1801 and referred to the 1st Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing a national religion, nor can they prevent anyone from exercising their choice in religion...that is what he referred to when stating "building a wall of separation between Church and State.
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Gentlemen, – The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me on behalf of the Danbury Baptist Association give me the highest satisfaction. . . . Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of government reach actions only and 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 and 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. I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association assurances of my high respect and esteem.
Reach actions only (make no law establishing of religion) and not opinions (prohibit the free exercise thereof). In 1878, Jefferson's letter was brought forth in a case, Reynolds V. United States, and was taken in full context, not the usual few word summation "wall of separation between Church and state". The Supreme Court summed up what Jefferson meant in his intention in the letter of the phrase:
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The rightful purpose of civil government are for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order. In this is found the true distinction between what properly belongs to the church and what to the State.
