Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 12-31-2001, 01:15 PM

Quote:

To Nehemiah Dodge and Others.
A Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association, in the State of Connecticut

Washington, January 1, 1802

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. My duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies between a man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith and worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that 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 rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurance of my high respect and esteem.

Thomas Jefferson

<a href="http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.jeffers.2.html" target="_blank">The complete correspondence between the Danbury Baptist Association and Thomas Jefferson</a>

[ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: Toto ]

Writer@Large · 01-01-2002, 01:46 PM

I hadn't realized it. We should declare 2002 the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Wall of Seperation

. Maybe we can get the Prez to commemmorate a day to it?

--W@L

Grizzly · 01-01-2002, 04:25 PM

Wouldn't it be wonderful if this 200 year anniversary got some national attention? I bet that there are many people out there who don't even know that the letter exists.

Chad · 01-01-2002, 05:33 PM

A pastor wrote to my local paper to make the claim that the United States is a Christian Nation. He "quoted" Thomas Jeffereson's letter by inserting a line in which TJ allegedly asserts that the wall is one dimensional. He also included alleged quotes from Patrick Henry and George Washington (farewell address) in which they basically say that anyone who believes religion and government should be separate should not be considered patriots.

Mecha_Dude · 01-01-2002, 05:55 PM

The president wouldn't commemorate it, he's the new head of the religious right!

4th Generation Atheist · 01-03-2002, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chad:
A pastor wrote to my local paper to make the claim that the United States is a Christian Nation. He "quoted" Thomas Jeffereson's letter by inserting a line in which TJ allegedly asserts that the wall is one dimensional. He also included alleged quotes from Patrick Henry and George Washington (farewell address) in which they basically say that anyone who believes religion and government should be separate should not be considered patriots.

Yecch! Shades of Orwell!

& Mecha_Dude's right, I'm afraid.

Darwin's Finch · 01-03-2002, 08:00 AM

I agree that Mecha_Dude is probably right, but I would love to see Dubya publicly explain why he wouldn't commemorate it.

Sephiroth · 01-04-2002, 02:20 PM

Isn't calling a wall one-dimensional contradictory?

Toto · 01-04-2002, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sephiroth:
Isn't calling a wall one-dimensional contradictory?

Yup. I think he meant one-sided, which is equally absurd.

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01-01-2002, 01:46 PM	#2
Writer@Large Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,198	I hadn't realized it. We should declare 2002 the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Wall of Seperation . Maybe we can get the Prez to commemmorate a day to it? --W@L

01-01-2002, 04:25 PM	#3
Grizzly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 2,936	Wouldn't it be wonderful if this 200 year anniversary got some national attention? I bet that there are many people out there who don't even know that the letter exists.

01-01-2002, 05:33 PM	#4
Chad Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 110	A pastor wrote to my local paper to make the claim that the United States is a Christian Nation. He "quoted" Thomas Jeffereson's letter by inserting a line in which TJ allegedly asserts that the wall is one dimensional. He also included alleged quotes from Patrick Henry and George Washington (farewell address) in which they basically say that anyone who believes religion and government should be separate should not be considered patriots.

01-01-2002, 05:55 PM	#5
Mecha_Dude Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Everywhere... I'm Watching you... Posts: 1,019	The president wouldn't commemorate it, he's the new head of the religious right!

01-03-2002, 08:00 AM	#7
Darwin's Finch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 666	I agree that Mecha_Dude is probably right, but I would love to see Dubya publicly explain why he wouldn't commemorate it.

01-04-2002, 02:20 PM	#8
Sephiroth Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 625	Isn't calling a wall one-dimensional contradictory?

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