"Separation of Church and State" Newt Gingrich

GenerationEngage State of the Union 2006 event. Newt Gingrich fields questions on the Separation of Church and State.

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[Steinway101]

Gingrich says that one of our founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, mentions our "Creator," and by extension, Gingrich implies that our country was founded primarily on religious beliefs, but the Constitution, on the contrary, does not mention a God, Creator, or a Divine leader once. And, the Constitution is our country's founding document.

[GenEngage]

Agreed. Most importantly people mistake the nature of both documents. The Declaration of Independence is a philosophical document in the vein of John Locke. The Declaration discusses "human rights" and not the structure of the American Democracy. The people that founded the United States were some of the leading minds of their time; the omission of God from our Constitution was deliberate and important and reflects the central theme of separation of church and state.

[olivemike81]

@Steinway101 And Jefferson only mentioned a creator as a way to ensure natural rights. If they come from man than they could be taken away by man. But if they came from some higher place than no one could take them.

[olivemike81]

If they ever struck "under god" from the official pledge, do you think anyone would get in trouble for sticking to the "under god" version? You would still have the right to sing any version you wanted to sing.

[stopularno]

What about the first amendment, bud?

[saintkamus14]

Yeah, see. it's people like you that make me glad we'll never become a theocracy.

[Swa6543]

Just how fair do you think it is for atheists to have no freedom from YOUR religion? Or people of other religions offended by you arrogant jerks who advocate our government endorsing AND 'Enforcing' your one TRUE religion??

[elbethere]

The idea of seperation of church and state comes from the establishment clause of the 1st amendment. Furthermore, although the constitution does not specificly mention seperation of church and state, it was a philosophy to which the founding fathers subscribed, and the reason for the establishment clause.

[ruarchitect]

Just go away already, Newt.

[Professorben112]

Correct, God is not mentioned, referred to, or eluded to in the Constitution, but you know what? Neither is the Separation of Church and State. There is nothing whatsoever in the Constitution that gives you freedom from Religion.

HELLFIRE8282, since you have deciding to jump on the bandwagon with the rest of the hyped-up Lefties, I'll start calling you and others the Murderous Left (referring, of course, to your lack of concern for the ruthless slaughter of innocent unborn babies).

[HELLFIRE8282]

seperation of church and state must be defended at all cost.these spineless politicians have to stop pandering to the religious right.