Joseph Farah uses the occasion of Rep Pete Stark's (D-CA) admission of being an atheist to point out the lie of "separation of church and state:"
In making his "brave" comments, Stark explained that he is "a Unitarian who does not believe in a Supreme Being." The 75-year-old old member of Congress then added: "Like our nation's founders, I strongly support the separation of church and state. I look forward to working with the Secular Coalition to stop the promotion of narrow religious beliefs in science, marriage contracts, the military and the provision of social services."
When I hear statements like this, from people who have been around the block a time or two, I have to wonder if the man is knowingly lying in support of his perverted beliefs or whether he is hopelessly ignorant of history.
Let me put it this way: None of America's founding fathers supported – strongly or not – the notion of separation of church and state. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Bupkis.
If someone out there in Internet-land would like to challenge that statement, please simply provide some evidence. And please don't tell me about Thomas Jefferson's 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. It is in this letter – and only in this letter – that any founder ever used the phrase "separation of church and state."
Farah goes on to point out just a few evidences that Jefferson would have been called a Right-wing religious fanatic today:
In 1774, while serving in the Virginia Assembly, Jefferson personally introduced a resolution calling for a day of fasting and prayer.
In 1779, as governor of Virginia, Jefferson decreed a day of "public and solemn thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God."
As president, Jefferson signed bills that appropriated financial support for chaplains in Congress and the armed services.
On March 4, 1805, President Jefferson offered "A National Prayer for Peace," which petitioned "Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
The "separation of church and state" Jefferson referred to in his letter to the Danbury Baptists was one where the federal government cannot establish a national church, nor can it interfere with the religious freedom of the people.
So why is the First Amendment now being used to purge expressions of faith from the public square?
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