God Bless America, Our Secret History
- Sir James
- Dec 21, 2018
- 6 min read
It seems that an old lie is resurfacing, or maybe I've just enjoyed some respite from the
lies. The idea that the founding fathers of America were agnostics, deists, and spiritists
is just that a lie, at least on the scale that most atheists will try to assert.
This lie is told for several reasons, all of which have the sum total of maintaining a party
line that insists that "separation of church and state" is so completely twisted that the
spiritual and moral conscience is completely divorced government. This idea only has
value to people with ulterior motives...
take the issue of separation of church and state for example, we have had the phrase
"constitutional separation of church and state" shoved at us so many times that no one
stopped to see if that language is even in the constitution, or what the origin and intent
was and we swallow the lie hook, line and sinker.
The phrase "separation of church and state" does not come from any of our founding
documents, but rather a private correspondence between the Thomas Jefferson and the
Danbury Baptist Association... wherein they found themselves AGREEING. So what
was the intent of that phrase? Let's turn to the original documents, language, and self
asserting context for our answers rather than ANY editorializing in our pursuit of the
truth.
"Sir,
Among the many million in America and Europe who rejoice in your
election to office; we embrace the first opportunity which we
have enjoyed in our collective capacity, since your inauguration,
to express our great satisfaction, in your appointment to the
chief magistracy in the United States: And though our mode of
expression may be less courtly and pompous than what many others
clothe their addresses with, we beg you, sir, to believe that
none are more sincere.
Our sentiments are uniformly on the side of religious
liberty--that religion is at all times and places a matter
between God and individuals--that no man ought to suffer in name,
person, or effects on account of his religious opinions--that the
legitimate power of civil government extends no further than to
punish the man who works ill to his neighbors; But, sir, our
constitution of government is not specific. Our ancient charter
together with the law made coincident therewith, were adopted as
the basis of our government, at the time of our revolution; and
such had been our laws and usages, and such still are; that
religion is considered as the first object of legislation; and
therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of
the state) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable
rights; and these favors we receive at the expense of such
degrading acknowledgements as are inconsistent with the rights of
freemen. It is not to be wondered at therefore; if those who seek
after power and gain under the pretense of government and
religion should reproach their fellow men--should reproach their
because he will not, dare not, assume the prerogatives of Jehovah and make laws to
govern the kingdom of Christ.
Sir, we are sensible that the president of the United States is not the national legislator,
and also sensible that the national government cannot destroy the laws of each state;
but our hopes are strong that the sentiments of our beloved president, which have had
such genial effect already, like the radiant beams of the sun, will shine and prevail
through all these states and all the world, till hierarchy and tyranny be destroyed from
the earth.
Sir, when we reflect on your past services, and
see a glow of philanthropy and good will shining forth in a course of more than thirty
years we have reason to believe that America's God has raised you up to fill the chair of
state out of that goodwill which he bears to the millions which you preside over. May
God strengthen you for your arduous task which providence and the voice of the people
have called you to sustain and support you enjoy administration against all the
predetermined opposition of those who wish to raise to wealth and importance on the
poverty and subjection of the people.
And may the Lord preserve you safe from every evil and bring you at last to his heavenly
kingdom through Jesus Christ our Glorious
Mediator.
Signed in behalf of the association, Nehemiah Dodge
Ephraim Robbins
Thomas Jefferson's letter was amiable, but short and to the point. But it is here that we
see the phrase "separation of church and state" first appear.
Taken from Andrew Lipscomb and Albert Bergh, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol., 16, pp. 281-282.
"Gentlemen,The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist Association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing. Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for is faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, 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 and State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect and esteem. signed, Thomas Jefferson" So within these documents we see clearly that the origin and intent was nothing other that the Danbury Baptist's reasonable fear, after hearing of a rumor the the Congregational Church was going to be made the state religion...that religious liberty would be abridged in the same manner as it had been in Europe. Indeed, congress went through many gyrations deciding which religion ought to be the state religion before settling on the idea that NO religion ought to be so established as to march over the free conscience of others. It was, in fact, the Baptists who so instructed congress through the elegant and powerful arguments of Patrick Henry on their behalf. You see at one point it was the Baptists themselves who were to be made the state religion AGAINST their protests. Congress happened upon this idea due to the fact that the Baptists were the only people RESISTING such establishment even to their benefit, so it was believed they were the only people trustworthy enough to wield such power. The Baptists however had an older history than that of other denominations and KNEW the dangers of ANY such establishment. More information on this point can be had on my Baptist History page on this site. "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of faiths have been afforded asylum, and freedom of worship here." -Patrick Henry Suffice it to say that moral conscience, and national morality are permanently linked to religious sentiment...as noted by our first president in his closing inaugural address. "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness - these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." -George Washington "Of all the conspiracies most likely to usurpe power from a free people history has taught us that the divorcement of religious thought, and free moral conscience from the administration and participation of and in their own government is the most devastating and complete imaginable." -Sir James (Of The Knights of True North)
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