| Most discussions opposing the role of | | | | Virginia. The required texts for each school |
| Christianity in the United States arise from | | | | system were the Bible, Watt's book of hymns |
| an abyss of ignorance so deep as to be | | | | and a reading primer. Those books, he |
| unfathomable. You can endlessly drop boulders | | | | declared, are the basis of a good education. |
| into this chasm of intellectual darkness | | | | |
| without ever hearing one hit bottom | | | | So, there's no separation of church and |
| | | | state, and Thomas Jefferson lived and |
| Speaking with certitude, people insist our | | | | supported the Christian faith. Oliver Stone |
| Constitution established a separation of | | | | not withstanding. |
| church and state. Clueless, they don't | | | | |
| realize their claim, and their obvious | | | | But there's more! Not content with exposing |
| self-satisfaction with stating it, simply | | | | their lack of Constitutional knowledge, |
| proves they've never read the Constitution | | | | drivers of the agenda loudly parade their |
| and lack any knowledge of what it says. | | | | ignorance of history. Stroking professorial |
| | | | beards, they pontificate on their delusion |
| The media often report on this "fact" of | | | | that the United States was never intended to |
| separation-and call it professional | | | | be a Christian nation. They must put aside |
| journalism. The politically correct engage in | | | | all our founding documents to pull this off, |
| long, earnest conversations based on this | | | | of course, but no matter. |
| untruth. How can mature, at least | | | | |
| chronologically, people hold so tightly to an | | | | Perhaps they should reconsider the safety of |
| opinion so obviously false? | | | | the platform from whence they hold forth |
| | | | since historical records profoundly prove the |
| Can you say "agenda?" | | | | falsity of their claim. |
| | | | |
| The writers of the Constitution clearly | | | | According to the Congressional Record, the |
| intended for Christianity to influence the | | | | first session of the United States Congress |
| governing of this nation. For one instance, | | | | started with several hours of Bible study and |
| the Constitution specifically provides for a | | | | prayer. All members participated. The |
| Christian chaplain for each branch of | | | | practice of starting each session with prayer |
| Congress. The chaplains are paid to open | | | | and Bible study continued for years. You |
| every session with prayer and offer counsel | | | | could look it up. |
| to members of the body. Would the originators | | | | |
| of the Constitution include a provision to | | | | United States government buildings are |
| perpetuate the great importance they attached | | | | chock-a-block full of Bible quotations, |
| to the Christian faith, a provision planned | | | | architectural detail and statuary. Check, for |
| to endure throughout the life of this nation, | | | | one instance, the Supreme Court building, |
| then say religion could have no part in our | | | | finished in 1935, for its many references to |
| governance? | | | | the Ten Commandments. |
| | | | |
| A simple reading of the Constitution provides | | | | Also, in the early days of the Republic, |
| other examples as well. The Constitution | | | | Christian church services were held in |
| isn't so long that, even with sounding out | | | | virtually every Federal building in D.C. |
| the words, promoters of the separation canard | | | | While President, Thomas Jefferson attended |
| couldn't read it. And if they want to know | | | | services in the House of Representatives |
| about the First Amendment, from whence they | | | | chamber. When he decided the music needed |
| claim to have reaped their separation notion, | | | | more energy, he ordered the Marine Band to |
| the Library of Congress has contemporaneous | | | | play each Sunday. |
| commentaries on the creation of the Bill of | | | | |
| Rights, written by Gouverneur Morris, who was | | | | And President Jefferson sent missionaries to |
| present throughout the process. You could | | | | the Indian tribes, and provided government |
| look it up. | | | | money to build churches, so the Native |
| | | | Americans might enjoy more fullness of life. |
| The "separation of church and state" phrase | | | | History says the missionaries were well |
| came from Thomas Jefferson's letter to the | | | | received, and the arrangement suited |
| Baptist Sunday School Association in Danbury | | | | everybody involved. You could look all of |
| Connecticut. However, the letter is not about | | | | this up. |
| keeping Christian influence out of | | | | |
| government, but about the Federal Government | | | | So, the Constitution doesn't mention a |
| not interfering in the free practice of | | | | separation of church and state. History |
| religion. Jefferson typically didn't comment | | | | proves the United States was founded as a |
| on the Bill of Rights because he, in France | | | | Christian nation. And the real Thomas |
| at the time, didn't participate in its | | | | Jefferson doesn't work out as a patron saint |
| creation. | | | | of those who seek to remove God from this |
| | | | nation's daily life. Why do the lies |
| To shed light on Thomas Jefferson's real | | | | continue? |
| attitude toward Christianity, consider the | | | | |
| three school systems he started in D.C. and | | | | Truth is on the side of angels, not agendas. |