Once again I found myself defending and defining the separation of church and state. It appears that many believe the first amendment prohibits religion from even being mentioned. That simply is not the truth. Even the Supreme court, having heard many cases about this, has been ambiguous in their interpretation. I believe it is just the context of time that has gotten so many confused. Why did so many seek to come to this new land? It was religious persecution, at least that was a big portion of it. So it is easy to understand why you would establish a government that would not allow that persecution. It's a no-brainer. Was the intent to prevent religious practices? No, the opposite of that was the intent. The first amendment to the constitution guarantees your right to practice your religion the way you see fit. That is the separation! The government can not endorse, support, enable or otherwise approve or condone any religious practice. That doesn't mean the " government " doesn't believe in a higher power in deriving its' just powers. It means the " government " can't tell you what that higher power is or says as a matter of law. Morality is derived from a higher power, some call that conscience.
In the Declaration of Independence you will find the reason for the creation of our government, to form " the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them." In the next paragraph we find this words, " endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights " It goes on to explain," governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. " Notice how , the creator, Natures' God plays a prominent role in all of that. In fact it plainly states the power to create that government comes from God. Separate? Only in that no one ideology, as to the epistemic value of any singular religious practice, will be considered the law of the land. Remember that had taken place in merry old England and other nations precipitating the exodos of what we call Pilgrims.
Who is the government? The people. Approximately 73% of the population identify themselves as Christian. Therefore if one were to look at that without bias, we are a nation ruled by Christians. Much is said about our nation being a Democracy, but in fact it is a Republic. But let's go with the Democracy thinking. In a simple Democracy the majority rules, 51 being greater than the 49 and that is all that is required. By that measure we certainly would be considered Christian. The truth is that was prevented by the first amendment to the constitution. Our representatives can not impose their religious beliefs in the creation of law. In other words, they can't pass a law simply because that is what the King James Bible says, or because that is what the Torah says is law. That is the separation they are talking about. The power to enact laws comes from the people, hence we have a Republic. That power doesn't come from God although it is clear that the founding fathers believed in a higher power than man, and it was that power alone that allowed men to create governments. To be more succinct, God, that higher power, whatever you conceive him or her to be, can revoke that at any time. And that is why we pray. The founding fathers did not intend government ( people ) to be atheists! That wasn't what they were saying at all. There intent was quite the opposite. They were well aware that it was divine providence, belief, that drives mankind forward. They were also well aware that some will pervert that belief to further their own cause, not the cause of mankind in general. That's why they didn't just say the United States is a Christian nation. They did say we as a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people, are a religious and moral people. We separated ethics from religious practices, not religion from government. If that were the case all our representatives would have to be atheists.
There is one thing I don't understand. Why are so many offended by what they claim not to believe in? If you do not believe in a higher power, if you believe there is no higher authority than man, why does it bother you when others pray to that power? It doesn't exist right? Therefore that power can not intervene. You know it is interesting to note that Christians have held the majority in government since that founding of our government. Yet, not once has it been proposed that we repeal the first amendment. Clearly that would be advantageous to us Christians wouldn't it? You know why we don't? Because we're Christians.
In the Declaration of Independence you will find the reason for the creation of our government, to form " the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them." In the next paragraph we find this words, " endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights " It goes on to explain," governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. " Notice how , the creator, Natures' God plays a prominent role in all of that. In fact it plainly states the power to create that government comes from God. Separate? Only in that no one ideology, as to the epistemic value of any singular religious practice, will be considered the law of the land. Remember that had taken place in merry old England and other nations precipitating the exodos of what we call Pilgrims.
Who is the government? The people. Approximately 73% of the population identify themselves as Christian. Therefore if one were to look at that without bias, we are a nation ruled by Christians. Much is said about our nation being a Democracy, but in fact it is a Republic. But let's go with the Democracy thinking. In a simple Democracy the majority rules, 51 being greater than the 49 and that is all that is required. By that measure we certainly would be considered Christian. The truth is that was prevented by the first amendment to the constitution. Our representatives can not impose their religious beliefs in the creation of law. In other words, they can't pass a law simply because that is what the King James Bible says, or because that is what the Torah says is law. That is the separation they are talking about. The power to enact laws comes from the people, hence we have a Republic. That power doesn't come from God although it is clear that the founding fathers believed in a higher power than man, and it was that power alone that allowed men to create governments. To be more succinct, God, that higher power, whatever you conceive him or her to be, can revoke that at any time. And that is why we pray. The founding fathers did not intend government ( people ) to be atheists! That wasn't what they were saying at all. There intent was quite the opposite. They were well aware that it was divine providence, belief, that drives mankind forward. They were also well aware that some will pervert that belief to further their own cause, not the cause of mankind in general. That's why they didn't just say the United States is a Christian nation. They did say we as a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people, are a religious and moral people. We separated ethics from religious practices, not religion from government. If that were the case all our representatives would have to be atheists.
There is one thing I don't understand. Why are so many offended by what they claim not to believe in? If you do not believe in a higher power, if you believe there is no higher authority than man, why does it bother you when others pray to that power? It doesn't exist right? Therefore that power can not intervene. You know it is interesting to note that Christians have held the majority in government since that founding of our government. Yet, not once has it been proposed that we repeal the first amendment. Clearly that would be advantageous to us Christians wouldn't it? You know why we don't? Because we're Christians.
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