Many people today have been so confused by the media and revisionist history about America that they fail to recognize that Christianity was a major part of the founding of not only our country but also our government. And many have bought the lie of separation of church and state, which does not exist; in fact Christianity is interwoven and cannot be separated.
Then there are others who think that religious freedom has to encompass all religions and these other religions not based on Christianity should be involved with our laws and government. This thinking was evident at a local tea party meeting I attended when it was brought up that because of the many different religions in this area they should be represented. This is wrong.
While it’s true this country was based on religious freedoms but the religions the founders were talking about were the different branches of Christianity. If members of other religions not based on Christianity want to speak out about personal freedom or if they believe their religious freedoms are being hampered they have a right but if they want to speak about being involved with our government, laws and changing things they have NO right to do so.
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Currently I am reading "Essentials in American History" written by Albert Bushnell Hart, c. 1905. As I always say if you want to really know history read an old history book.
I am sure we all know the stories of people coming to America for religious freedom; the Quakers, Puritans, Catholics, Episcopalians just to name a few. There were also many missionaries who came for the sole purpose to preach the Gospel and convert Indians to Christianity.
But did you know that in the early days of forming America public taxes supported churches?
I am sure we all know the stories of people coming to America for religious freedom; the Quakers, Puritans, Catholics, Episcopalians just to name a few. There were also many missionaries who came for the sole purpose to preach the Gospel and convert Indians to Christianity.
But did you know that in the early days of forming America public taxes supported churches?
Page 96 - 97 (paraphrased) ... the Episcopal church was now gaining ground... in Virginia it was the official church supported by public taxation, in the Carolina's and New York it was supported also by voluntary contributions. The Congregational church was supported by public taxation also. Side by side with the established churches lived many other religious sects. Baptist, Lutherans, Jews....
During the period of forming our American government there was much arguing back and forth on how it should be done.
Page 210. ... Benjamin Franklin said, "lest our projects will be confounded and we ourselves become a reproach... He moved that the Convention be opened every day with prayer.
Page 214. In one state convention a member even objected that... if there be no religious test required, pagans, deists, and Mahometans might obtain offices among us and that the senators and representatives might all be pagans.
I could list more but I think these few examples should set the record straight. People came here to freely practice their Christian faith, to have religious freedom. Churches were of such importance that they were supported by public taxes. Meetings were opened with prayer. And there was a concern that non-believers, pagans and Mahometans could infiltrate our government. If only the founders could be here today to see how prophetic their concerns and fears were.
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I will leave you with an explanation I wrote some time ago.
The first part of Amendment 1 in the Bill of Rights states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of;
Its ludicrous how Judges and other law makers have found a way to pervert the meaning of those words and fooled the people into thinking it means separation of church and state, no where does it even hint at that. And though those words couldn't possibly be any easier to understand I will simplify it even further to remove any remaining doubt what so ever of the intent of what was written.
Congress shall make no law, zero, none, NO LAW means NO LAW.
Respecting, bias, giving favor over another.
An establishment of religion, that means Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, and so on, NOT God or Jesus Christ. God and Jesus are not a religion. A religion is a set of beliefs. This country was founded on Judeo Christian principles so I did not include Muslim, Buddhism, or other anti Christian religions.
(or) Prohibiting the free exercise they’re of. To stop, hinder, interfere with religious practices, whether to pray, read the Bible, display religious signs or any other means of religious expression.
Now lets take it as a whole one more time:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of;
In essence it states Congress (government) can not favor any particular religion or interfere with religion BUT it does not mention in the least bit that religion can not get involved in government.
Carey Masci
