Garry Wills - Was America Founded on Christianity?

Who cares whether or not the founding fathers (last I checked, Jefferson and Madison were two of them) intended for there to be a "wall of seperation" b/w church and state. The FACT is that that is how it was interpreted, which should show you that THAT is what was deemed to best serve the country. You see, we INTERPRET our constitution to serve the changing needs of our society. If it were really up to the founding fathers, we'd still have slaves, disenfranchised women, etc. PROGRESSIVE!!!

Jesus Christ has returned. I AM.

elbethere: every time a fed. judge rules against a community, city, or state in public prayer, Christmas or Easter celebrations, or any other religious celebration they are violating the 1st amend. Read the 1st amend. again very carefully. It says "congress shall make no law". It doesn't say anything about any private group.

You are incorrect. The interpretation of the Constitution to state and local law is a product of the 19th century. As for the idea of "that statement" keeping government out of religion, how do you do that without keeping religion, as important a thing it is in daily lives and decision making of the people, out of government? Jefferson's letters, from which the statement comes, clearly illustrate his intentions and meaning in drafting the establishment clause.

The Establishment Clause goes on to say that there shall be no law establishing religion nor of prohibiting free exercise thereof.

It also means that if a community wants to have a day of prayer that is endorsed by the local government, that same government had better allow all religions equal access and expression of their own religious views. And this issue does not begin to address the issue of non-religious Americans.

elbethere: it was liberal judges who, in the early 20th cent., took Jefferson's private letter out of context and turned the 1st amend. upside down to meant the exact opposite of what the founders meant.

elbethere: That statement was meant to keep the fed. gov. out of religion. It was meant to keep the fed. gov. from creationg a national religion. No where in that statement does it say religion shall not participate in government decisions. BTW, no where in that statement are the words "sep. of church and state".

Its in the establishment clause to the first amendment. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

stevenstreets: nice speech. Still didn't answer my question. Where did you learn that people were fleeing Europe because of Christian persecution?