Danbury Baptist Dbq

I think that the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution did not think about the separation of church and state. At that given time I think that the main focus was getting away from the British government. I believe they were thinking if we can remove ourselves from under the British government we can make our own rules and run our states the way we see best fit. Not if we don’t focus on keep the main focus on strengthening our churches our government could be lost.

Since the Declaration is not in fact a law, one must look at the actual document that guides the way American government is supposed to act, the Constitution. If the founders had intended to create a Christian nation, then it would follow that their laws would follow in that way. However, this is not the case. In reality, it could not be further from the truth. For example, in Article VI section 3 of the Constitution it

The word “God” or “Christianity” is often thrown around in the political world today. Candidates often can be seen supporting the invasions of other nations, but then claiming a strong devotion to God only a few moments later. The question is, “how has America become such a broken nation with such distorted views of the role of Christianity?” The emergent idea of America as a Christian nation is an important and relevant issue with many possible consequences. In reality, there are many cultural and religious influences in the nation, but many people have internalized the idea that the Christian religion is not solely an influential aspect of our society, but instead helps to construct the society itself. Personally, before reading

The term “a wall of separation between church and state” first came from Thomas Jefferson, himself, in a response letter to Danbury Baptist association’s letter of concern regarding the church’s insecurity stemming from that with the new constitution in effect, they

Most people believe that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. After all, our money is emblazoned with “In God We Trust,” our Pledge of Allegiance declares that we are “one nation under God,” and in court we swear to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” It’s true that the Founders were heavily influenced by Christian ideals. And while the U.S. Constitution prohibits any religious test or requirement for public office, the majority of U.S. presidents have been openly Christian. Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, two of our most famous presidents, however had no formal religious affiliations. Jefferson shunned orthodox Christianity at an early age and cut and pasted together a condensed version of the New Testament, removing most miracles and all references to Jesus’s divinity. He did, however, continue to believe in God as a precise, impersonal creator of the universe and its laws. Lincoln, on the other hand, spoke frequently of God during his presidency but never formally joined a church. Today, academics remain uncertain about whether or not he was a Christian as some aspects of his faith remain a mystery.

The Jeffersonian ideals are further expressed in a document from Jefferson to Samuel Miller, a minister (Document B) where Jefferson strongly opposes the idea of government in correlation to religion. He clearly states that no power according to the Constitution was delegated to the general government to assume any authority in religious discipline. In addition to Document B, Document H displays the Jeffersonians strict interpretation of the federal Constitution. Here, James Madison shares his decision with congress on an Internal Improvements Bill. The bill asked approval for federal funds that would go towards constructing roads and canals and improving water navigation. Despite understanding the importance and benefit of the bill, Madison withheld his signature from the bill solely because this power was not expressly given by the Constitution. He goes on to state that

There is no doubt that the founding fathers were deeply religious. George Washington once wrote, “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.” John Adams said, “Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited…. What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!” Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others.” So, how do we know that they wanted their new nation to follow their personal beliefs,

Even though Thomas Jefferson was a deeply religious man, he strongly believed that a person’s faith was a personal matter and that the government had no place in a person’s religion. Jefferson argued that “… strict

     One of the major aspects of the Federalist argument is that anything not forbade in the Constitution is permitted, while the Republicans commend the contrary. Jefferson displays his support for the latter, while speaking with, Presbyterian minister, Samuel Miller. Regarding the governments intermeddling in religious institutions he proclaims “no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to assume authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the general government” . This further shows his support of the states and their rights; he goes on to say “it must then rest with the states, as far as it can be in any human authority…” .

Jefferson was a ‘religious’ man but not a Christian. Having read and re-read the blasphemous work, History of the Corruptions of Christianity, by Joseph Priestly (a Presbyterian turned Unitarian), Jefferson came to believe that the original and pristine teachings of Jesus had been corrupted. Among the people guilty of this were Paul the Apostle, Athanasius of Alexandria, Augustine of Hippo, a host of medieval Popes, and John Calvin. The corruptions that these

And so it begins. Sadly, it seems America has truly forgotten the intent of Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury (CT) Baptist Convention on the subject of separation of church and state. It was Jefferson’s intent to not have in America a head of state who was also head of church, ala King Henry VIII and the establishment of the Church of England.

Was America founded as a Christian nation? This is a controversial topic for all Americans. There are a lot of sayings and supports for both sides of understanding. However, as for myself, I do not believe the United States has a Christian foundation. The reasons why I am not on the side of support are the words of former Presidents and Founding Fathers, requirements in US policies, and deductive reasoning from the past.

For my site visited, I wanted to visit a congregation in the Danville community so I could experience a small part of the religious community around me. I figured what better way to do this than to attend the church that I have a view of outside my dorm window. On countless Sunday mornings, I have watched many Danville residents and friends walk into the doors of the Danville Presbyterian Church every Sunday and figured it would be interesting to observe a church that is literally in my backyard. Along with this, I also wanted to visit a Presbyterian church since this is what Centre College was founded in.

The phrase, “separation of church and state” is not found in the U.S. Constitution. On January 1, 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter titled “Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists.” This letter was written in response to a letter sent by the Danbury Baptists nearly three months before. The Danbury Baptist expressed their sentiments at Jefferson’s election and their concerns about the relationship between religion and the state. In the correspondence, Jefferson discussed the importance of the state being unable to control the religion of the people: “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 separation between Church & State” (Jefferson). “A wall of separation between Church and State” led to the now widely used phrase, “separation of church and state.”

America existed on the basic idea of freedom; in the United States there are different types of religion; Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and others. If religion and state is separate that freedom that is aimed by every individual is reached. The first amendment does not necessarily state that the constitution and religion should be separate but it stated that congress have no right to judge or make any law that interfere with an individual religious rights. This makes sense because in America there are different religions and not all have the same view; it will not be easily to create the free country, America with these different views. The founder fathers themselves may have been from a slightly different background and made a constitution that knew no history of any individual but as a country that counts to hold everyone.