A Critique of David Barton's Views on Church and State
http://www.bjconline.org/resources/pubs/pub_walker_barton.htm
[excerpt]
n 1995 I wrote a critique of "America's Godly Heritage," a video by David
Barton. At that time, Barton's views were little-known beyond his native
Texas. I prepared my critique in response to occasional inquiries from
friends of the BJC who rightly questioned Barton's claim that America is "a
Christian nation."
Since then Barton's reputation and influence have steadily grown. He has
written several books, founded an organization to advance his ideas and
become a central figure in some religious circles, as well as an operative
of the Republican Party. He has served as the Vice Chair of the Texas GOP
and was named one of the nation's "25 Most Influential Evangelicals" by
Time magazine in 2005.
While the avenues for his message have multiplied, the themes of Barton's
work are the same today as they were in 1995. Barton peddles the
proposition that America is a Christian nation, legally and historically.
He asserts that the principle of church-state separation, while not in the
Constitution, has systematically been used to rule religion out of the
public arena, particularly the public school system. His presentation has
just enough ring of truth to make him credible to many people. His work,
however, is laced with exaggerations, half-truths and misstatements of
fact.
As more individuals, congregations and elected officials are influenced by
Barton's claims, the threat of his campaign becomes more real. In an effort
to counter Barton's misguided mission, and still using "America's Godly
Heritage" as an outline, I have updated and revised my critique of some of
Barton's most prominent and problematic claims.
J. Brent Walker, Executive Director
Baptist Joint Committee
April 2005
[end excerpt]
The Barton Chronicles
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/bartchron.htm
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You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads [Virginia] SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members, there are members from
all over the US and a couple from overseas as well]
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.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
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USAF LT. COL (Ret) Buffman (Glen P. Goffin) wrote
"You pilot always into an unknown future;
facts are your only clue. Get the facts!"
That philosophy 'snipit' helped to get me, and my crew, through a good
many combat missions and far too many scary, inflight, emergencies.
It has also played a significant role in helping me to expose the
plethora of radical Christian propaganda and lies that we find at
almost every media turn.
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THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
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