| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
22 Mar 2007 06:17:14 AM |
| Object: |
G Washington's Religion? Part II |
G Washington's Religion? Part II
SOME FOLLOW UP
What exactly were Washington's religious beliefs? The evidence of his
personal letters and papers would seem to point away from the
Christian faith in the direction of the deist or even Stoic beliefs.
General A. W. Greely, whose extensive study of the first president
resulted in an article called "Washington's Domestic and Religious
Life," concluded that "the effort to depict Washington as very devout
from his childhood, as a strict Sabbatarian, and as in intimate
spiritual communication with the church is practically contradicted by
his own letters." In those letters, Greely pointed out, "even those of
consolation, there appears almost nothing to indicate his spiritual
frame of mind." Greely found it especially striking that "in several
thousand letters the name of Jesus Christ never appears, and it is
notably absent from his last will."
Greely was correct: the name of Jesus is conspicuous by its absence.
Washington's letters to his wife were destroyed after his death, so we
are denied any clue to his beliefs that might have been contained in
them, but the rest of his very voluminous correspondence, both
intimate and official, fails to mention a savior or redeemer. In a
longish lifetime—sixty-seven years—there are only a couple of passing
references to Christianity: the aforementioned reference to the benign
influence of the Christian religion, and a brief word on the Indian
tribes, expressing his official approval of their conversion. Jesus
himself is not mentioned anywhere in Washington's correspondence. In
marked contrast with Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, and even the
scandalous Thomas Paine, he did not even make any reference to Jesus
as a great philosopher or moralist. Stranger yet, when the Congress
used the name of Jesus Christ in their occasional calls for days of
thanksgiving, Washington would modify the wording of these
proclamations so as to avoid using the name. Nor is there any evidence
in his writings that he entertained any expectation of eternal life,
an essential Christian tenet. All this can hardly have been an
oversight. Washington was a methodical, meticulous man. He was also
scrupulously honest, and on occasions where he did not feel honesty to
be the best policy he kept his mouth diplomatically shut, as
Jefferson, Adams, and Rush had all remarked.
The above is not exactly correct. Glen Goffin did manage a bit of
research coup by locating ONE letter over Washington's name that did
mention Jesus Christ.
At 01:14 AM 10/29/03 -0500, you wrote:
Dear Professor Kaminski,
I hope you will pardon this uninvited intrusion. My name is
Glen P. Goffin and I am a dedicated believer in the wisdom of
Church(Religion) and State(Government) separation. Motivated by this
dedication, I have been attempting to provide the most accurate,
original source, references I can find to those who appear to be
using the Christian/non-Christian writings of our founding/framing
fathers to support their pro or anti Church-State separation
propaganda claims. (Personally, I do not find supernatural
explanations credible.)
I have noted that many pro-separationist/non-religious
organizations are using your "...and never to Jesus,..." statement
(see below) as proof that George Washington was a Deist. Though I
personally believe that Washington was, indeed, more Deist than
Christian in his faith beliefs, I wonder if you are aware of the
Delaware Chiefs document (see below) over his signature and rank entry?
Further research indicates that the signed document (which
is reported as mutilated), whose text is in the handwriting of
Washington's Aide, Lt. Col. Robert Hanson Harrison, was originally
in the possession of Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach, of New York City and
Philadelphia. The portion in brackets was supplied from the copy by
Caleb Gibbs, inclosed in Washington's letter to the President of
Congress, May 14, I779, q. v.
Based on pure guesswork, I am not overly surprised that
Washington signed this document. There were atrocities committed by
Indian allies of both the Continental and British armies before and
after the "Speech to the Delaware Chiefs." (See end note.) However,a
good many of Washington's troops were far more familiar with the
atrocities of the "heathen" Indians because of their
pre-Revolutionary struggles with them on the harsh frontiers of this
new country. Gen. Washington needed every fighting man, or woman, he
could muster to work together if they were to be victorious over the
British. One way to help reduce the existing animosities within his
own forces, and perhaps even increase the anti-Loyalist/British
fervor, would be to claim that the pro-Independence (Anti-British)
Indians were being introduced to biblical (Christian) conditioning.
http://www.masoniclodge4.com/history/
(Extract...with added punctuation for clarity)
"The impact of Masonry pervaded Washington's writing and ideas," said
John Kaminski, a history professor at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison who wrote "A Great and Good Man" about Washington,
and heads the university's Center for the Study of the American
Constitution. "Washington 's writings rarely include references to
God, and never to Jesus," Kaminski said, "but rather use the
terminology and philosophy of the Masons, referring to The Great
Architect and building in general." Washington became a promoter of an
extensive canal system aimed at facilitating westward expansion, and
Kaminski suggests that he was influenced even in that by his
experience as a Mason.
(End extract)
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/washington/fitzpatrick/index.html
<ot2www-washington?specfile=/texts/english/washington/fitzpatrick/search/gw.o2w&\
\
act=surround&offset=18497623&tag=Writings+of+Washington,+Vol.+15:+SPEECH+TO+THE+\
\
DELAWARE+CHIEFS&query=Delaware+Chiefs&id=gw150049>Writings
of Washington, Vol. 15: SPEECH TO THE DELAWARE CHIEFS SPEECH TO THE
DELAWARE CHIEFS[Head Quarters, Middle Brook, May 12, 1779.]
(Extracts)
Brothers: I am glad you have brought three of the Children of your
principal Chiefs to be educated with us. I am sure Congress will open
the Arms of love to them, and will look upon them as their own
Children, and will have them educated accordingly. This is a great
mark of your confidence and of your desire to preserve the friendship
between the Two Nations to the end of time, and to become One people
with your Brethen of the United States. My ears hear with pleasure the
other matters you mention. Congress will be glad to hear them too. You
do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the
religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier
people than you are. Congress will do every thing they can to assist
you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and
union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it.
Note: In the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison. The document
is signed by Washington, who added, beneath his signature, "Commander
in chief of all the Armies in the United States of America." The
above text is from the signed document (which is mutilated) in the
possession of Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach, of New York City and
Philadelphia. The portion in brackets was supplied from the copy by
Caleb Gibbs, inclosed in Washington's letter to the President of
Congress, May 14, I779, q. v.
(End extracts
(End note)
July 3, 1778, loyalist Colonel John Butler with local troops and
Seneca Indian allies invades Wyoming Valley, north of the Susquehanna
River, and attacks at "Forty Fort." In the frontier war along the New
York and Pennsylvania frontier, Onandagas, Cayugas, Senecas, and
Mohawks of the Iroquois League ally with the British. Joseph Brant
(Joseph Fayadanega), a Mohawk war chief educated in English missionary
schools and an Anglican convert, has significant influence among
British government and military leaders. Oneidas and Tuscororas ally
with the Americans. Washington writes Philip Schuyler, a member of the
Indian commission for the northern department. George Washington to
Philip Schuyler, July 22, 1778
Based in what I have found to date, I am forced to question
your statement that GW never referenced "Jesus."
Sincerely,
Glen P. Goffin
Lt.Col. USAF (Ret)
***************************************************************
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 · Historical Reality SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
***************************************************************
.. . . 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)
.. . .
****************************************************************
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.
*****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************
.
|
|
| User: "cartman" |
|
| Title: Re: G Washington's Religion? Part II |
25 Mar 2007 09:57:58 PM |
|
|
So you and Goffin are squarely at odds? Goffin says that the writing
is authentic; you said it's a bogus document--
Remember this: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics.democrats.d/msg/=
cd0615bcc561506f
?
On Mar 22, 5:17 am, wrote:
of Washington, Vol. 15: SPEECH TO THEDELAWARECHIEFSSPEECH TO THEDELAWAREC=
HIEFS[Head Quarters, Middle Brook, May 12, 1779.]
(Extracts)
Brothers: I am glad you have brought three of the Children of your
principalChiefsto be educated with us. I am sure Congress will open
the Arms of love to them, and will look upon them as their own
Children, and will have them educated accordingly. This is a great
mark of your confidence and of your desire to preserve the friendship
between the Two Nations to the end of time, and to become One people
with your Brethen of the United States. My ears hear with pleasure the
other matters you mention. Congress will be glad to hear them too. You
do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the
religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier
people than you are. Congress will do every thing they can to assist
you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and
union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it.
Note: In the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison. The document
is signed by Washington, who added, beneath his signature, "Commander
in chief of all the Armies in the United States of America." The
above text is from the signed document (which is mutilated) in the
possession of Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach, of New York City and
Philadelphia. The portion in brackets was supplied from the copy by
Caleb Gibbs, inclosed in Washington's letter to the President of
Congress, May 14, I779, q. v.
(End extracts
(End note)
July 3, 1778, loyalist Colonel John Butler with local troops and
Seneca Indian allies invades Wyoming Valley, north of the Susquehanna
River, and attacks at "Forty Fort." In the frontier war along the New
York and Pennsylvania frontier, Onandagas, Cayugas, Senecas, and
Mohawks of the Iroquois League ally with the British. Joseph Brant
(Joseph Fayadanega), a Mohawk war chief educated in English missionary
schools and an Anglican convert, has significant influence among
British government and military leaders. Oneidas and Tuscororas ally
with the Americans. Washington writes Philip Schuyler, a member of the
Indian commission for the northern department. George Washington to
Philip Schuyler, July 22, 1778
Based in what I have found to date, I am forced to question
your statement that GW never referenced "Jesus."
Sincerely,
Glen P. Goffin
Lt.Col. USAF (Ret)
***************************************************************
You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of Americahttp://members.tripod.com/~ca=
ndst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Presenthttp://members.tripod.com/~candst/th=
eocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and Statehttp://member=
s=2Etripod.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 =B7 Historical Reality SepChurch&Statehttp://groups.yahoo.com/gr=
oup/HRSepCnS/
***************************************************************
. . . 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. Eisne=
r,
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)
. . .
****************************************************************
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.
*****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************- Hide qu=
oted text -
- Show quoted text -
.
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: G Washington's Religion? Part II |
27 Mar 2007 09:50:38 AM |
|
|
G Washington's Religion? Part II
"cartman" <ambrosesearle@yahoo.com> wrote:
[Richard Gardiner aka Ambrose Searle aka cartmanesq aka cartman aka
"cartman" <ambrosesearle@yahoo.com>]
:|So you and Goffin are squarely at odds?
Well Richard, not at all.
:|Goffin says that the writing
:|is authentic; you said it's a bogus document--
:|Remember this: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics.democrats.d/msg/cd0615bcc561506f
:| ?
Is that the best you can do?
I must really bug the hell out of you for you tro spend as much time and
effort tracking me, my posts and looking for errors in something I might
have said over the past 12 years.
Such an obbession. (grin)
If I continue with the series 1995 that I began at
HRSepCnS · Historical Reality SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
and will occasionally post here as well you should have a field day if you
bother to track them as you seem my other posts. I say that because in
looking back over some of those old posts of 12 years ago there are errors
of fact in some of them.
Have fun with them. (grin)
Now to this
:|Remember this: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics.democrats.d/msg/cd0615bcc561506f
:| ?
#1
Kindly note the date I posted that
Jul 28 2003,
#2
Kindly note the date of the email Glen sent me
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 15:21:35 -0500
To: me
From: Glen Goffin <buffip2@comcast.net>
Subject: Fwd: Re: Washington and Jesus
Jim,
Read my letter first. His reply seemed to miss the whole point.
Either that or he was upset that I had the balls to call his attention to
his misstatement..one that is being used by the religious Reich to make
their Christian Nation claims.
#3
and the date he wrote Professor At 01:14 AM 10/29/03 -0500,
Dear Professor Kaminski,
------------------------------------------
You do try so very hard but it always seems to backfire on you.
now for the post you want others to see
:|Remember this: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics.democrats.d/msg/cd0615bcc561506f
:| ?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Jul 28 2003, 8:42 am
Newsgroups: alt.atheism, alt.education, alt.politics.democrats.d,
alt.politics.republicans, alt.politics.usa.constitution,
alt.society.liberalism, misc.education
From:
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 08:42:45 -0400
Subject: Re: Is "Under God" constitutional?
:|"Dana" <yourn...@example.com> wrote in message <news:vi870tcd86ve0b@corp.supernews.com>...
I see Dana is back to using bogus, uncited and irrelevant quotes again
:|> " You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life, and above all,
:|> the religion of Jesus Christ. Congress will do everything they can to assist
:|> you in this wise intention." George Washington
Bogus quote
-------------------------------------------------
You seem to forget I have also said, a number of times, that uncited
quotes should be treaed as bogus unless and until someone provides a valid
and compelte cite for some.
Dana didn't do that.
In facr he never did provide a citer for that quote.
However, I won't even offer that. I will say that I was incorrect on that
matter.
However, as the dates abive show I didn't receive Glen's email that
contained the acutal quote, until apprx 6 to 7 months after I replied to
Dana.
What your example does show is that study, research and learning is a
ongoing process. One that I engage in constantly.
I will also say I will continue to point out that uncited quotes are to be
treated as bogus unless and until properly cited.
BTW did you ever correct the bogus quote that appears in the book you co-
authored?
Now as a bonus for you I will include the following:
http://jonrowe.blogspot.com/2007/01/boller-lillback-george-washington-that.html
[excerpt]
Regarding Washington never mentioning the words "Jesus Christ," Lillback's
explanation is that he didn't say those words because he held them in
reverence; but that elsewhere he refers to Jesus as the "Divine Author of
our blessed religion." The problem: Again, looking at the "big picture,"
records indicate Washington only mentioned the words "Jesus Christ" once.
And only spoke of Jesus one other time as the "Divine Author of our blessed
religion." Other than that, Washington never spoke of Jesus at all!
Regarding Washington's terminology for God, Lillback writes:
Washington's titles for God, such as "Great author of the Universe,"
were not deist titles. These were the titles of honor used for deity by the
preachers of his day. He also used several biblical titles for God. These
included: Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Lord, God of Armies, Lord of Hosts,
Almighty, Redeemer, Creator, Maker, Lord of Nations and Father.
First, Washington never spoke of God as Redeemer; that is an error. And
arguably he didn't speak of God as Jesus Christ either. The one instance of
him using that name was as follows: "You do well to wish to learn our arts
and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will
make you a greater and happier people than you are." This is not an
explicit endorsement of Trinitarianism. And even the term "Divine Author of
our blessed religion" is consistent with Arianism, a very popular form of
unitarianism in the day which views Jesus as a divinely created being
inferior to God the father.
Scholars also doubt whether those two references (again, the only two that
exist!) to Jesus convey Washington's true beliefs, because the original
documents were not written in his own hand, but were signed by him (aids
probably prepared them).
[end excerpt]
***************************************************************
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 · Historical Reality SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
***************************************************************
.. . . 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)
.. . .
****************************************************************
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.
*****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: G Washington's Religion? Part II |
27 Mar 2007 07:41:15 AM |
|
|
"cartman" <ambrosesearle@yahoo.com> wrote:
:|So you and Goffin are squarely at odds?
Well Richard, not at all.
:|Goffin says that the writing
:|is authentic; you said it's a bogus document--
:|Remember this: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics.democrats.d/msg/cd0615bcc561506f
:| ?
Is that the best you can do?
I must really bug the hell out of you for you tro spend as much time and
effort tracking me, my posts and looking for errors in something I might
have said over the past 12 years.
Such an obbession. (grin)
If I continue with the series 1995 that I began at
HRSepCnS · Historical Reality SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
and will occasionally post here as well you should have a field day if you
bother to track them as you seem my other posts. I say that because in
looking back over some of those old posts of 12 years ago there are errors
of fact in some of them.
Have fun with them. (grin)
Now to this
:|Remember this: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics.democrats.d/msg/cd0615bcc561506f
:| ?
#1
Kindly note the date I posted that
Jul 28 2003,
#2
Kindly note the date of the email Glen sent me
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 15:21:35 -0500
To: me
From: Glen Goffin <buffip2@comcast.net>
Subject: Fwd: Re: Washington and Jesus
Jim,
Read my letter first. His reply seemed to miss the whole point.
Either that or he was upset that I had the balls to call his attention to
his misstatement..one that is being used by the religious Reich to make
their Christian Nation claims.
#3
and the date he wrote Professor At 01:14 AM 10/29/03 -0500,
Dear Professor Kaminski,
------------------------------------------
You do try so very hard but it always seems to backfire on you.
now for the post you want others to see
:|Remember this: http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics.democrats.d/msg/cd0615bcc561506f
:| ?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Jul 28 2003, 8:42 am
Newsgroups: alt.atheism, alt.education, alt.politics.democrats.d,
alt.politics.republicans, alt.politics.usa.constitution,
alt.society.liberalism, misc.education
From:
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 08:42:45 -0400
Subject: Re: Is "Under God" constitutional?
:|"Dana" <yourn...@example.com> wrote in message <news:vi870tcd86ve0b@corp.supernews.com>...
I see Dana is back to using bogus, uncited and irrelevant quotes again
:|> " You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life, and above all,
:|> the religion of Jesus Christ. Congress will do everything they can to assist
:|> you in this wise intention." George Washington
Bogus quote
-------------------------------------------------
You seem to forget I have also said, a number of times, that uncited
quotes should be treaed as bogus unless and until someone provides a valid
and compelte cite for some.
Dana didn't do that.
In facr he never did provide a citer for that quote.
However, I won't even offer that. I will say that I was incorrect on that
matter.
However, as the dates abive show I didn't receive Glen's email that
contained the acutal quote, until apprx 6 to 7 months after I replied to
Dana.
What your example does show is that study, research and learning is a
ongoing process. One that I engage in constantly.
I will also say I will continue to point out that uncited quotes are to be
treated as bogus unless and until properly cited.
BTW did you ever correct the bogus quote that appears in the book you co-
authored?
Now as a bonus for you I will include the following:
http://jonrowe.blogspot.com/2007/01/boller-lillback-george-washington-that.html
[excerpt]
Regarding Washington never mentioning the words "Jesus Christ," Lillback's
explanation is that he didn't say those words because he held them in
reverence; but that elsewhere he refers to Jesus as the "Divine Author of
our blessed religion." The problem: Again, looking at the "big picture,"
records indicate Washington only mentioned the words "Jesus Christ" once.
And only spoke of Jesus one other time as the "Divine Author of our blessed
religion." Other than that, Washington never spoke of Jesus at all!
Regarding Washington's terminology for God, Lillback writes:
Washington's titles for God, such as "Great author of the Universe,"
were not deist titles. These were the titles of honor used for deity by the
preachers of his day. He also used several biblical titles for God. These
included: Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Lord, God of Armies, Lord of Hosts,
Almighty, Redeemer, Creator, Maker, Lord of Nations and Father.
First, Washington never spoke of God as Redeemer; that is an error. And
arguably he didn't speak of God as Jesus Christ either. The one instance of
him using that name was as follows: "You do well to wish to learn our arts
and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will
make you a greater and happier people than you are." This is not an
explicit endorsement of Trinitarianism. And even the term "Divine Author of
our blessed religion" is consistent with Arianism, a very popular form of
unitarianism in the day which views Jesus as a divinely created being
inferior to God the father.
Scholars also doubt whether those two references (again, the only two that
exist!) to Jesus convey Washington's true beliefs, because the original
documents were not written in his own hand, but were signed by him (aids
probably prepared them).
[end excerpt]
***************************************************************
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 · Historical Reality SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
***************************************************************
.. . . 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)
.. . .
****************************************************************
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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