The founding fathers, when faced with the task of writing the Declaration of Independence, summoned all the mighty sounding phraseology they could come up with.
It made the Declaration sound nobler than just being annoyed over paying taxes to England. So much for the founding fathers righteous intentions. It is also common to want some "higher power" on your side when you are getting ready to fight a bigger foe. There are no atheists in a trench.
More than a few of the founding fathers cared little for religion. The "church language" they used is a mere vestige of speech and not the proof of intent.
The separation of church and state becomes public debate when someone tells someone's kid to recite something they don't believe in.
Nobody wants to be told when to genuflect, to whom or in what direction, particular in the direction of the government.
Stephen Givens
Sgivens1@bellsouth.net
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Dear Mr. Givens,
Although I agree with you in your position on separation of church and state, I would like to point out that the founding fathers of this nation did not look at the issue the same way we do.
At the time, the issue was a response being forced to join the Anglican church of England, where other protestants were punished for the way they worshipped. The writers of the constitution just knew that state sponsored religion is a bad idea, not only because to keep religion from being forced on non-believers, but also to keep government from controlling churches. It protects both religious people and atheists or agnostics. For most of American history, churches have maintained this wall for that very reason.
The religious people in this country who are trying to break down these barriers should try to understand how they are undermining their own interests. Who will determine which particular belief system 'win out' and be the official one if the wall comes down completely?
Mario Piccolo
mariopiccolo@bellsouth.net