Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Friday, January 28, 2011 12:54:33 PM
Here is the relevant paragraph in Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists. They were subject to Connecticut state tax in support of local Presbyterian ministers...
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & 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 & 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."
[President Jefferson; http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danbury.html]
Note that the phrase 'wall of separation between Church & State' is given in the context of the first amendment, which prohibits a NATIONAL CHURCH established by CONGRESS. Also, note the broader context contained in the following statement regarding the 'rights of conscience'. He desired to see the sentiments of first amendment applied in the states, but realized his power did not extend over the states regarding matters of religion. The establishment clause in the first amendment applies only to the Congress.
So, it is apparent why the context has been suppressed by those using Jefferson's words to suppress the free exercise of religion in the states. Those who violate the first amendment have no concept of religious liberty and seek to use words intended for its protection as a means of its invalidation and eventual reversal. Tyrants attack the very foundations of liberty.
Finally, note Jefferson's understanding of 'natural rights' being consistent with 'social duties'. Rights are derived from man's duty to adhere to the Natural Law as written on the conscience of every man. But along with the suppression of the knowledge of God as is common among the tyrants of every age, comes the suppression of the natural rights expressed by Jefferson as life, liberty and property.
Re: http://townhall.com/columnists/RobertKnight/2011/01/28/appeasing_the_gods_in_hawaii/