Member
|
quote: For futher information on the original understanding of church-state constitutional relations, I recommend a book on the subject which investigates, among other things, the intentions and facts of the framing of the religious clauses of the First Amendment. From there you may see more clearly the difference between strict separation and the ideas of the framers in the Constitution.
Witte, John. Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment.
Please tell us in your own words what,according to John Witte, the original understanding was? |
| |
|
Member
|
quote: Last, I question whether Jefferson and the Baptist view of religious liberty may be so quickly conflated.
The Baptist view of religious liberty, articulated in their 1801 letter to President Jefferson, is exactly the same as the view Jefferson articulated in his famous 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists. |
| |
|
Member
|
quote: Most of all, it would appear that your post places a great disadvantage for Christian statesmen and public service.
The principle of no government cognizance of the duty which we owe to our Creator applies to all Statesmen, not just Christians. |
| |
|
Member
|
quote: If the Christian must be involved as a citizen in democracy, he cannot and should not leave his religious convictions and attitude behind.
A Christian politician will have no need for his convictions regarding the duty which we owe to the Creator, because the government does not take cognizance of the duty which we owe to our Creator. |
| |
|
Member
|
quote: Should politicians make no decisions based on a Christian worldview or conscience, then in practice we would have a secular state and a religiously unfree people.
The Christian world view of the founders included the view that the Savior ordained a separation of the things that belong to God from the jurisdiction of Caesar. |
| |
|
