Letter To Danbury Baptist Rhetorical Analysis

David Barton’s Original Intent: The Courts, The Constitution, and Religion, breaks down the significance of how religion was intended in the First Amendment and its effect on the phrase, “Separation of Church and State.” Barton well illustrates how the founding fathers incorporated the position of religion into the First Amendment. Barton explains how the House Judiciary Committee believes, “The founders did respect other religions; however, they neither promoted pluralism nor intended that the First Amendment do so” (175). They continue to discuss how the founding fathers were all Christians and they expect it to remain that way in the lives of the citizens. In Barton’s views of the First Amendment, he believes it has changed dramastically

Thomas Jefferson’s intent in establishing the wall of separation between church and state was not to eliminate religion from the new society, but to protect the integrity and purity of religion as practiced by its citizens. This protection offered by the separation of church and state has provided a foundation of strength and opportunity gained through understanding and learning

This document will provide a brief comparison and synopsis of some of the most important writings of our time: The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists, and the U.S. Constitution. Also, this will be an analysis of what I believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution thought about the separation of church and state, as well as God from government.

Thomas Jefferson would write a brief response which included a very known term called “Separation between Church & State”. However, did Thomas Jefferson really want a definite separation between the Christian Church and State? He clearly wanted to ease the pain of letting for the Baptist by trying to assure them that the government would not pick one denomination to be the states denomination. Jefferson stated in the letter “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & “his” God”. He kind of left it up to any religion with that statement in my opinion. Now I’m confused on the entire subject and that’s when an online Forbes article entitled “Was America Founded As A Christian Nation?” This helped me make formulate an opinion to declare that America was not founded on

Constitution were in favor of the separation of church and state. The founding fathers felt that a man's religion and faith are personal matters and the government had no right be involved in them. Therefore, I believe they wanted all religions to be protected whether Christian or non-Christian. In Thomas Jefferson’s letter, he states, "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that acts 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 and State." (How to cite in text) This expression has become well known because it is said to explain the "religion clause" of the First Amendment to the Constitution which reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" (U.S. const. amend. I).

The United States Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802, are all important documents in our nation’s history and religion. These historical documents were the biggest influence in our country and they continue to shape our powerful nation. In comparing these documents, I will decipher the differences between what the signers of the Declaration of Independence and what the U.S. Constitution thought about the separation of the church and state.

Thomas Jefferson personally believed that religious freedom was a God-given right. The Baptists wanted to worship freely like the Anglicans and not be thrown in jail because of it. Although Jefferson’s religious views were not as similar as those of the Baptists, he did believe that they too deserve the right to practice their faith. The Baptists’ proposal was the cause of their alliance with Jefferson, which resulted with the first amendment in our Bill of Rights. This bill established the separation of church and states.

In the early year of 1801, the Danbury Baptist Association wrote a letter to the president of the time, President Thomas Jefferson. The church was worried about a rumor. Was an national denomination soon to be established? The letter read. Jefferson then responded to the letter for the church in the year January 1, 1802, telling the people of the church that there was no real solid basis to this supposed rumor and that no one should believe it . Jefferson then stated “I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should not make any laws respecting any and all establishment of religion., thus the idea of separation of church and state was first put in action.

Lewis begins by quoting Thomas Jefferson on the separation of the church and the state, then makes the statement that the problem and its solutions arose "from Christian, not universal, principles and experience." "There are other religious traditions," he continues, "in which religion and politics are differently perceived, and in which, therefore, the problems and the possible solutions are radically different from those we know in the West."/2/

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During the week, we read about Thomas Jefferson, what we discover is that most of the time Thomas Jefferson 's religious beliefs was not know because he never likes to reveal his religious beliefs to the public and let 's not forget that Thomas Jefferson was raise as Anglican. He also at one point say to his nephew. "Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." On the notes on the state of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson ran a campaign to separate the church and state to culminate the religious freedom.

Since the beginning of human civilization, there continues to be a strong relationship between the state and their chosen religious institution. According to an interpretation of an anecdote of Thomas Jefferson, “He didn’t say he say he believed in the Christian God; he evaded that point. But Jefferson did agree with what all his colleagues in the founding thought that a people cannot maintain liberty without religion” (Novak, M., 2006). While the relationship is inevitable as it is used to unify a population, true government should seek as diminished a relationship as possible. While religious freedom is essential to what America was founded on, it cannot infiltrate our governmental systems

Since the founding of America, the separation of church and state is one that has evoked much scrutiny amongst American civilians. Contrary to popular belief, the phrase "separation of church and state" is not mentioned within the Constitution. In fact, the words: God, Jesus and Christ are also not mentioned within the preamble of the Constitution. Instead, the phrase “separation of church and state” is first used within a letter from President Thomas Jefferson, where he spoke on behalf of the Bill Of Rights. Within the letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, Jefferson provides his perspective on the separation of the church and the state; “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies

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One large reason the church was separated from state was that Thomas Jefferson stated that it was a Christian’s job to “maintain purity and independence of church”, therefore state and church should be separated(Witte, 2006). This separation also influenced the First Amendment, which “guarantees religious freedom, expression, assembly, and the right to petition” (First Amendment, n.d.). This forbids Congress advocating one religion over another and restricting an individual’s practice. Several past presidents supported the separation of state and church. Jimmy Carter claims “I think the government ought to stay out of the prayer business” (Presidential Proclamations, 2016). It would cause more issues for religion to be involved in the states because everyone believes something