On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 18:17:18 -0500, "August Pamplona"
<cosmicaug@hotmail.com> wrote:

http://wctrib.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=204&ArticleID=22397

A preacher type (listed in the phonebook as "Rev.") writing the
usual fundy stuff about the Founding Fathers true intentions being
misunderstood.

Quoting the letter to the editor:

What Founding Fathers meant


Two writers published recently reveal a lack of
understanding of our nation's founding fathers
and the basis upon which this nation was founded.

Ellen Goodman's March 30 column supports Michael
Newdow, who wants to remove "under God" from the
Pledge of Allegiance. She stated, "The framers'
belief in the separation of church and state
created the first secular government in the world."
She advocates a secular government in which a
person's religious faith and the values that
come from that faith have no place.

This is the position of the Benson letter writer
on April 3, who also used the phrase, "separation
of church and state," stating, "The eyes of God
have no business in government. I expect my
government leaders to leave their religious
beliefs at the door when they go to work."

Both writers reveal a lack of understanding of
our nation's Founding Fathers. What the Founding
Fathers did not want was the establishment of a
particular religion as a national religion that
was supported by taxes with membership mandated
by the government. When the Constitution was
written, there were several denominations and
the founders didn't want one of them mandated as
the established national church.

The phrase "separation of church and state" is
not found in any of our country's early documents,
including the Constitution. The phrase comes from
a letter written by Thomas Jefferson during his
presidency. It is interesting that when the
Constitution was written, Jefferson was not a
delegate but was serving as U.S. Minister in
France. However, his work on the Declaration of
Independence and the Virginia Constitution both
included acknowledgement of God.

George Washington, who presided over the
Constitutional Convention, in his farewell address
as president, stated, "Of all the dispositions
and habits which lead to political prosperity,
Religion and Morality are indispensable supports...
The mere Politician, equally with the pious man,
ought to respect and cherish them."

If religious faith and all mention of God are
removed from government, doesn't that amount to
the establishment of atheism as the national
religion? That is definitely not what the Founding
Fathers wanted, but it does appear to be what
secularists want.

Wayne Cook
Willmar


August Pamplona
P.S. Note that my name is not Wayne Cook. I am not the letter writter

What the founders said that is not in the Constitution does not count.
It's not binding.

They left it out for good reasons.

The First amendment clarifies that.

The First amendment IS binding.

Wayne Cook makes the assumption that the government must be religious
or not religious. No middle ground, huh?

It just ain't so, Wayne. This nation is not Christian, Jewish, or
Atheist. It's a nation that allows the people to pursue their own
faiths, choose their churches, or abstain from religion altogether.

Religious choice is up to the American citizens, not the government.

Wayne, integration of church and state is wrong and if you think about
it you will see why.

If you cannot see why, there are other nations you could move to whose
government determines the religion. Go to one of them if you don't
like America because of it's freedom of religion.

If you don't like freedom of religion, you can't like freedom.
Therefore you should get the hell out of America because you hate it
because of it's freedom.