The Undiscovered Country

No God Allowed

diamond_hoop commented in a previous entry: "Too bad God's not allowed in America anymore."

But is God really not allowed? Can we prevent God from going anywhere he darn well pleases?

Of course not. We can, however, say no one shall mention his name in certain places. That's where we are as a nation today.

We have taken the term "separation of church and state" to levels Thomas Jefferson never intended. In fact, the term came from a private letter he wrote to the Danbury Baptist association to assuage their fears about the freedom of religious expression. They feared the new government assumed religion to be a privilege granted (or taken away) by the government, and not an inalienable human right.

Here is the entire text of the Baptist letter (copied from http://members.tripod.com/~candst/tnppage/baptist.htm ):

The address of the Danbury Baptists Association in the state of
Connecticut, assembled October 7, 1801. To Thomas Jefferson,
Esq., President of the United States of America.

Sir,

Among the many million in America and Europe who rejoice in your election to office; we embrace the first opportunity which we have enjoyed in our collective capacity, since your inauguration, to express our great satisfaction, in your appointment to the chief magistracy in the United States: And though our mode of expression may be less courtly and pompous than what many others clothe their addresses with, we beg you, sir, to believe that none are more sincere.

Our sentiments are uniformly on the side of religious liberty--that religion is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals--that no man ought to suffer in name, person, or effects on account of his religious opinions--that the legitimate power of civil government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbors; But, sir, our constitution of government is not specific. Our ancient charter together with the law made coincident therewith, were adopted as the basis of our government, at the time of our revolution; and such had been our laws and usages, and such still are; that religion is considered as the first object of legislation; and therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the state) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights; and these favors we receive at the expense of such degrading acknowledgements as are inconsistent with the rights of freemen. It is not to be wondered at therefore; if those who seek after power and gain under the pretense of government and religion should reproach their fellow men--should reproach their order magistrate, as a enemy of religion, law, and good order, because he will not, dare not, assume the prerogatives of Jehovah and make laws to govern the kingdom of Christ.

Sir, we are sensible that the president of the United States is not the national legislator, and also sensible that the national government cannot destroy the laws of each state; but our hopes are strong that the sentiments of our beloved president, which have had such genial effect already, like the radiant beams of the sun, will shine and prevail through all these states and all the world, till hierarchy and tyranny be destroyed from the earth. Sir, when we reflect on your past services, and see a glow of philanthropy and good will shining forth in a course of more than thirty years we have reason to believe that America's God has raised you up to fill the chair of state out of that goodwill which he bears to the millions which you preside over. May God strengthen you for your arduous task which providence and the voice of the people have called you to sustain and support you enjoy administration against all the predetermined opposition of those who wish to raise to wealth and importance on the poverty and subjection of the people.

And may the Lord preserve you safe from every evil and bring you at last to his heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ our Glorious Mediator.

Signed in behalf of the association,

Nehemiah Dodge
Ephraim Robbins
Stephen S. Nelson

Here is Jefferson's response (copied from http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpost.html ):

To messers Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem & 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 & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and, in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more & more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act 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 eternal separation between Church & State. Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorised only to execute their acts, I have refrained from prescribing even those occasional performances of devotion, practiced indeed by the Executive of another nation as the legal head of its church, but subject here, as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect,

[Jefferson first wrote: "confining myself therefore to the duties of my station, which are merely temporal, be assured that your religious rights shall never be infringed by any act of mine and that." These lines he crossed out and then wrote: "concurring with"; having crossed out these two words, he wrote: "Adhering to this great act of national legislation in behalf of the rights of conscience"; next he crossed out these words and wrote: "Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience I shall see with friendly dispositions the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced that he has no natural rights in opposition to his social duties."]

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & the Danbury Baptist [your religious] association assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.

One could argue from the statement (aside from the "wall of separation of church and state" portion) " . . . Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorised only to execute their acts, I have refrained from prescribing even those occasional performances of devotion . . ." that Jefferson wanted all references to God and religion kept out of all government-owned and/or public establishments and venues.

If so, that would violate the First Amendment that states ". . . make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; . . ." which he also mentions in the letter.

Religion is indeed a personal matter. However, for any government to demand all public expression of religion and faith be silenced not only violates Man's natural right, but violates the US Constitution. To demand "No God allowed" is the same as saying "You must worship God, and do so in this manner."

That our government is now demanding in some areas the removal of a cross necklace or a shirt with a simple "What would Jesus do?" statement saddens and frightens me some. It ties the hands of those wanting to spread the Good News, and prevents some who desperately need God and his comfort from hearing that News.

At the same time, God is all-powerful. He will reach those who need him through those who have the faith and courage to thumb their noses at governmental dictates (and gracefully accept the consequences for doing so).

God loves paradox. History has shown and continues to show that in countries where all public expression of faith is squelched, Christianity grows the fastest.

Because America and other western countries have enjoyed religious freedom for so many years, we have grown complacent. We don't work hard to keep our faith growing and reaching out to those who need it (there are always exceptions; I'm talking generalities).

I submit if we lose our right to worship even in our homes, you will see a revival like none other.

Why?

Two reasons. We will realize what we lost and want it back, and people always turn to God in their darkest, most difficult times.