Tom Jefferson (@TomJefferson1976)

What Does Separation of Church and State Mean? John Eastman via @PragerU Nearly every American knows the phrase “separation of church and state.” Do you know where it's from? Here’s a hint: it’s not in the Constitution. John Eastman, professor of law at Chapman University, explains how and why this famous phrase has played such an outsized role in American life and law. https://www.prageru.com/video/what-does-separation-of-church-and-state-mean The History and Meaning Behind the Separation of Church and State (1) The First Amendment Interestingly enough, the phrase “separation of church and state”––while found in other constitutions, such as the one for the now-defunct Soviet Union––is not found in the U.S. Constitution. It originated in a private letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. (We’ll discuss this letter in more detail below). When people cite the “separation of church and state,” they’re often suggesting that government and religion are separate. Broadly speaking, this principle is correct. Ameri-ca was not meant to be a theocracy. A proper reading of the First Amendment acknowledges that the government and the church were intended to be two distinct institutions. The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law [1] respecting an establishment of religion, or [2] prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Notice that clause [1] does not state that “Congress shall make no law respecting a person with religious convictions.” It states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” In other words, the government cannot establish a national religion funded by taxpayer dollars. Understood in context, the “separation of church and state” does not mean religious exercise or prayer should never occur on government property. The original intent was to protect the church from the intrusion of the state. It’s misleading to argue that government and religion should never, under any circumstances, be mixed together. https://firstliberty.org/news/history-behind-the-separation-of-church-and-state/ June 4, 2023 There Are No God-Given Rights without God By John Green When did morality become relative? When did good and evil stop being black and white — and become shades of gray? When did thieves and murderers stop being predators and become the oppressed victims of a corrupt system? Those are the fruits of moral relativism. It holds that there is no absolute right or wrong — what one culture considers "wrong," another will consider "right." It is the philosophy that good and evil are constructs of human beings — not laws of God. There are two social frameworks for occupants of our world — "might makes right" and divine law. "Might makes right" is credited to Greek philosopher Thrasymachus. The philosophy asserts that a society's view of right and wrong is determined by those in power. It imposes no morality on the issue of right and wrong. It is simply that those in a position to make the rules are free to do so with no ethical constraints. In "might makes right," strength is righteousness, and prosperity is determined by survival of the fittest. A shark that devours a seal is not evil. It is simply an animal deriving sustenance from another. There is no judgment, no guilt, and no ethical conundrum. The strong thrive at the expense of the weak. It is neither good nor evil. We accept that "might makes right" for non-human animals. But we do not accept it for ourselves. A man who steals from another is not a mere animal deriving sustenance from his prey. We believe that men have an inherent right to not be preyed upon, be-cause we accept the notion of good and evil — a standard that transcends cultural be-liefs and animalistic cravings. We believe that humans have God-given rights. However, belief in an authority greater than the state goes against the philosophy of communism and must not be allowed by its adherents. As Karl Marx said in 1844: Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. He viewed religion as a drug created by men, to temporarily ease their suffering. He felt that religion should be replaced by a Marxist society, which would ease physical suffer-ing — no longer requiring a religious analgesic to mask it. read more> https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2023/06/there_are_no_godgiven_rights_without_god.html Ten Commandments are important for children to learn from, not just see. They deliver universal moral guidance should be part of every curriculum - putting them on view doesn't create a state religion and is not a violation of church and state. https://gab.com/TomJefferson1976/posts/113064399365206439 Why The fight to preserve the Constitution is worthwhile and one no American who believes in God should back away from. https://tinyurl.com/52n4ds7e How America’s Founding Fathers Made God’s Law and Natural Law the Foundation of American Government https://tomjefferson1976.wordpress.com/2022/08/09/how-americas-founding-fathers-made-gods-law-and-natural-law-the-foundation-of-american-government/ How Thomas Jefferson Put the Golden Rule into The Declaration of Independence https://tomjefferson1976.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/how-thomas-jefferson-put-the-golden-rule-in-the-declaration-of-independence/comment-page-1/