Constitutionally illiterate people love to assert that there is a constitutional separation of church and state, but they refuse to even try to document their claim. They seem to believe that the fact that so many Americans are familiar with the statement is proof enough.
Those that are familiar with the US Constitution usually have made themselves aware of the origin of this fallacy. Unfortunately, they often devote their attention to the fact that this phrase is not present in any of our founding documents, and showing that Thomas Jefferson was not present at the Constitutional convention.
Until the 6/27/2022 episode of “The Hamilton Corner,” I had never heard anyone address the point that I have always found to be paramount. Jefferson, in the letter to the Danbury Baptists, where he wrote the phrase in question, was specifically addressing the lack of authority that the Federal Government has to interfere with church doctrine, or religious practice.
Abe Hamilton went right for the jugular with his takedown of this prominent farce.
I have often wondered why so few Christians, and constitutional scholars focus on this pertinent fact. Likewise, a similar dilemma occurs with so many people’s handling of the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution.
1st Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
So let’s look at this a little closer.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” This is a limitation of Congress, not of religion, or any religious organization, or activities.
“or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” The federal government’s regulation of religious activities, of any kind, would directly violate this provision of the amendment.
“or abridging the freedom of speech,” The 3rd definition by Webster of, “abridge,” is;
3. “formal : to reduce in scope : DIMINISH
attempts to abridge the right of free speech.”
The mere effort to diminish the speech of Americans by their government is a violation of this amendment.
“or of the press;” the federal government is also not at liberty to regulate, or diminish freedom of, “the press.”
“or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
This phrase directly authorizes the activities of concerned Americans, such as many of those at the Capital on Jan 6th.
Nowhere in this amendment does it authorize the interference, in any way, with religious prayer on any property, federal or private, or by Americans employed by the government.
All claims to the contrary are without validity, and absurd.
God bless you, Dave