Flash The Cash
02-19-2008, 08:22 AM
Americans United for Separation of Church and State... Chipping Away at Our Democratic Republic
Americans United for Separation of Church and State... Chipping Away at Our Democratic Republic
By Steven T. Voigt
Simply put, the Establishment Clause states that our nation can never have a national religion and citizens are free to worship God as they choose. Commenting on the Establishment Clause in 1859, Justice Joseph Story penned, "the right of a society or government to interfere in matters of religion, will hardly be contested by any persons, who believe that piety, religion, and morality are intimately connected with the well-being of the state, and indispensable to the administration of civil justice." 4 Likewise, Justice William Douglas wrote, "We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being . . .. When the state encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities . . . it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs." 5
When read properly, the Establishment Clause is limited in scope. Liberals who want their ideas made into untouchable law, however, choose to paste their own ideas onto the plain words of the clause. As with other parts of the Constitution, left-wingers like to read additional words like "wall of separation of church and state" into the First Amendment that are found nowhere in the text or even in the Founders' intent. In fact, the Establishment Clause of the Constitution permits - and our Founding Fathers considered it permissible and even proper - for religion and religious values to find a place in a just government.
4.Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, A Familiar Exposition of the United States: Containing a Brief Commentary (New York, Harper & Brothers 1859).
5.Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306 (1952).
Americans United for Separation of Church and State versus Prison Fellowship Ministry, Chipping Away at Our Democratic Republic - CWN (http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/250/Steven_Voigt)
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I am alway amused by absurd interpretations of the Constitution by those who have no clue about how to interpret it. Notice that Mr. Voigt uses one meaning for the word "religion" in the establishment clause to conform it to his personal wish for civil authority over religion, then switches to a different one for the free exercise clause.
"Simply put, the Establishment Clause states that our nation can never have a national religion and citizens are free to worship God as they choose."
Were he consistent, the second clause wouldn't prevent Congress from prohibiting anything but a national religion. Congress could outlaw any religion but the national religion.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State... Chipping Away at Our Democratic Republic
By Steven T. Voigt
Simply put, the Establishment Clause states that our nation can never have a national religion and citizens are free to worship God as they choose. Commenting on the Establishment Clause in 1859, Justice Joseph Story penned, "the right of a society or government to interfere in matters of religion, will hardly be contested by any persons, who believe that piety, religion, and morality are intimately connected with the well-being of the state, and indispensable to the administration of civil justice." 4 Likewise, Justice William Douglas wrote, "We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being . . .. When the state encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities . . . it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs." 5
When read properly, the Establishment Clause is limited in scope. Liberals who want their ideas made into untouchable law, however, choose to paste their own ideas onto the plain words of the clause. As with other parts of the Constitution, left-wingers like to read additional words like "wall of separation of church and state" into the First Amendment that are found nowhere in the text or even in the Founders' intent. In fact, the Establishment Clause of the Constitution permits - and our Founding Fathers considered it permissible and even proper - for religion and religious values to find a place in a just government.
4.Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, A Familiar Exposition of the United States: Containing a Brief Commentary (New York, Harper & Brothers 1859).
5.Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306 (1952).
Americans United for Separation of Church and State versus Prison Fellowship Ministry, Chipping Away at Our Democratic Republic - CWN (http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/250/Steven_Voigt)
************************************************** *****************
I am alway amused by absurd interpretations of the Constitution by those who have no clue about how to interpret it. Notice that Mr. Voigt uses one meaning for the word "religion" in the establishment clause to conform it to his personal wish for civil authority over religion, then switches to a different one for the free exercise clause.
"Simply put, the Establishment Clause states that our nation can never have a national religion and citizens are free to worship God as they choose."
Were he consistent, the second clause wouldn't prevent Congress from prohibiting anything but a national religion. Congress could outlaw any religion but the national religion.