This post is regarding the decision by a court in SC that prohibits a city council from praying in the name of Jesus before their sessions. It is also in response to the rampant misuse of the phrase "separation of church and state."
The First Amendment to the Constitution 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.” There is no specific mention or the use of the words “separation of church and state” in the First Amendment.
This famous phrase came from a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote after the Constitution was written. Baptists in Danbury, Connecticut were persecuted because they were not part of the Congregationalist establishment in that state’s government. They wrote Thomas Jefferson a letter, and he responded. In his letter Jefferson used the famously misquoted and taken out of context statement of “separation of Church and State.” In the first amendment, it says that Congress cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion. It is speaking only of the federal level of government. In fact at the time this letter was written, several states like Connecticut had state churches and religious mandates that their citizens had to attend and follow. Now I don’t believe that we should have state churches, but I am trying to point out what the Constitution actually says. I also think that we should take the time to look at the statements by Jefferson concerning separation of church and state and understand in what context it was written. My concern that I stated in my original letter was with the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court’s sole existence is based on their ability to interpret the Constitution. I believe in this case of against High Falls, SC, it is not a place of a court to tell anyone who and what they should pray about or to whom they should pray. As Americans, we have the right to worship and pray freely. There is no reason a governmental body desiring an invocation should not be able to pray in Jesus name. There is no law prohibiting the free exercise of prayer.
I am thankful that I live in a land of government entities that may seek spiritual guidance. No one is trying to make anyone become a particular religion. No on is advocating one religion over another, they are just choosing to exercise their religious freedom.
If this lawsuit indeed does set a precedent, this case may single handedly make it illegal to pray in the name of Jesus at any public gathering that may be directly or indirectly sponsored by the government. In my opinion, that is not a good thing for any American. If the court is given the power to limit our practice or expression of our religious freedoms, what will become of the other rights we hold so dear?
The First Amendment to the Constitution 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.” There is no specific mention or the use of the words “separation of church and state” in the First Amendment.
This famous phrase came from a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote after the Constitution was written. Baptists in Danbury, Connecticut were persecuted because they were not part of the Congregationalist establishment in that state’s government. They wrote Thomas Jefferson a letter, and he responded. In his letter Jefferson used the famously misquoted and taken out of context statement of “separation of Church and State.” In the first amendment, it says that Congress cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion. It is speaking only of the federal level of government. In fact at the time this letter was written, several states like Connecticut had state churches and religious mandates that their citizens had to attend and follow. Now I don’t believe that we should have state churches, but I am trying to point out what the Constitution actually says. I also think that we should take the time to look at the statements by Jefferson concerning separation of church and state and understand in what context it was written. My concern that I stated in my original letter was with the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court’s sole existence is based on their ability to interpret the Constitution. I believe in this case of against High Falls, SC, it is not a place of a court to tell anyone who and what they should pray about or to whom they should pray. As Americans, we have the right to worship and pray freely. There is no reason a governmental body desiring an invocation should not be able to pray in Jesus name. There is no law prohibiting the free exercise of prayer.
I am thankful that I live in a land of government entities that may seek spiritual guidance. No one is trying to make anyone become a particular religion. No on is advocating one religion over another, they are just choosing to exercise their religious freedom.
If this lawsuit indeed does set a precedent, this case may single handedly make it illegal to pray in the name of Jesus at any public gathering that may be directly or indirectly sponsored by the government. In my opinion, that is not a good thing for any American. If the court is given the power to limit our practice or expression of our religious freedoms, what will become of the other rights we hold so dear?
posted by weathergirl05 at 9:08 AM
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