Separation of Church and StateErecting the Wall of Separation Between Church and State is Absolutely Essential in a Free Society ~ Thomas Jefferson

The issue was addressed in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution but never clearly defined. It has been debated ever since then. Thomas Jefferson had the opinion that it was as much a freedom from religion (domination) as of religion. At that time, most countries in Europe had an official religion of the state. An individual must either belong to the state church or be declared a dissenter. Those churches received funds from the taxes imposed by the state, while they also were exempt from paying taxes. We still say that most churches are exempt from taxation. They may be taxed if some aspect of that church involves a business interest.

The issue has become clouded in recent years as some claimants say in civil cases that their religious beliefs exempt them from complying with both state and federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination. In other words, they should be free to discriminate if that is part of their religious beliefs. Conversely, some politicians have chosen to interpret the law so that the government may impose restrictions upon individuals based upon the religious beliefs of the ruling political party. Those beliefs may represent only the will of a minority who happens to hold political control at a given moment.

The issue has come to the forefront with the abortion ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court with the rationale that life begins at inception, a dogma held by some religions or churches. It is not the only questionable ruling. Prior court cases have established that public funds may be distributed to religious organizations, whether they be churches, schools, universities, or hospitals. Although not all charter schools have a religious affiliation, many do. In North Carolina, the drift in the General Assembly has been to limit funding to public schools while expanding options and funding for charter schools.

The issue has become more controversial in the contest between individual rights and responsibilities. When your religious beliefs counter my civil rights, then they have crossed the line. The same amendment addresses freedom of speech, which also has undergone some convoluted interpretations in recent years. Incitement to rebellion is not free speech; it’s treason.

A Theocracy is more than a state-sanctioned religion. It is a state-imposed religion in which the clergy may dictate public policies and impose religious dogma into law. Billy Graham warned us about the dangers of such a situation and what it would mean for this nation. His warning seems to have gone unheeded.

by John Suddath This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.