slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I ran across this in a local paper today. I wanted to share.

A Church/State Issue, by Henry Apperson

Once upon a time in America's colonial past, civil magistrates could punish poor souls for religious infractions, resulting in the infamous Salem Witch Trials. In addition, in some southern colonies, taxes were collected from all to support the Anglican Church's mission. Eventually, through persistent efforts of many, including the fiery Baptist evangelical John Leland, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, The First Amendment to the Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, contained the first constitutional guarantee of religious liberty in America.

It provided protection for believers and doubters, to practice their faith as their conscience dictated, without interference from government, at any level. In addition, this unique "Wall of Separation" provided a protection for the State from an overweening influence, or control, by any religious group or faction.

Thus, America's strength has come from two staunch pillars, Civilian Supremacy (the military has always been subservient to civil power) and Religious Freedom, which has led millions to flee despotism and religious intolerance to come to America.

Today, the controversy over religious instruction or mediation in a public school setting has, sadly, divided this wonderful community. Thousands of dollars have already been spent which otherwise might have purchased hymnals of praise or clothing for the poor, or library books and laptop computers for inquiring young students.

This Jeffersonian Wall of Separation is a protection for both the Church and the State...it is not a restriction. It is to protect both sides from an unwarranted incursion beyond the "Wall", as in the Church's control of the State in the past in France, Russia's suppression of religious freedom in its' historical past, and current religious extremists who proclaim death to infidels who oppose the enthronement of their own religious theology over all others.

How inspiring it is to see Church/State cooperation, within these parameters, in the Baptists' contribution of $70,000 toward a public school faciity in West to protect the young from storms and other dangers; how inspiring to see the gathering of citizens and students of all faiths kneeling in humility and prayer and hope...in the high school gym...as they said farewell to the one they called "coach!"

I challenge all of us to stand ready to protect the ministers and priests of all faiths in their churches, mosques and synagogues as they show us the path of righetousness as they understand it, from the teachings of their Holy Scriptures. And likewise, let us protect the teachers in our schools as they impart State mandated lessons of "reading, writing and arithmetic," and science, and technology, and engineering and mathematics. And we are confident both will remind us of the enduring principles of the worth of the individual, the dignity of mankind, and that no one is exempt from common courtesy, Amen.

Note: These views are my own and do not represent any other person or institution.

To OPP readers:

Apperson is a Whitney resident, professor of History at McLennan Community College and the author of a book about the history of the community of West, where he was a former pastor of First Baptist Church of West. McLennan County seat is Waco, Texas. Whitney is on the other side of Lake Whitney from me.

West, Texas is 20 minutes from my home, and is the West referred to in this guest column. Yes, the West that took the blast from a local fertilizer plant and destroyed much of the small town.

karpenter Loc: Headin' Fer Da Hills !!

Actually, The Protection Only Applies To Churches (Plural, little 'c') From The State.
There Is No 'The Church' In America
The Hope Was That Religious And Moral Persons Would Be Elected To Office.
Making The Gov't Reasonably Moral And Hopefully Honest In The First Place.
But, Just In Case......

Incidentally, The Census Doesn't Record Muslims Prior To 1900
Some 10 Persons In New York

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Actually, I only wrote the first line of the post, and the last two. Everything else is copied and are the exact words of the guest columnist in a local paper. I found his writing interesting and impressive. I am throwing it out there to the OPP for other's response to it. His bonafides are in order.

karpenter Loc: Headin' Fer Da Hills !!

karpenter Loc: Headin' Fer Da Hills !!

The Initial Premise Of 'The Church' Does Not Exist In The United States.
Religious Organizations And Their Adherents Are Free To Practice Anywhere At Anytime And Participate In Their Governance Without Legislative Restriction.
The Supreme Court, In Brazen Violation Of The Constitution,
De-Constructed All That
'Separation Of Church And State' Wasn't An Issue In America For 180yrs.

Bible Believing May Even Prevent One From Being Elected.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I really am having a hard time understanding where you are coming from or going with wh**ever interpretation of this piece you have. :roll:

karpenter Loc: Headin' Fer Da Hills !!

This Is Where Another Premise Breaks Down
Take To The Streets For Another Jim Jones Or David Koresh ??This Is Straight Up Moral Equivalence And By Extension,
Applies To Any Value System That Comes Down The Pike
'Who Are WE To Say That The Values Of A Cannibal Are Less Valid Than Our Own' Mohammed Is The Filthiest Individual In Written History, Read The Hadith
Not A Hint Of Holiness About The Man

The Essay Sounds Very Inspirational And Uplifting
...On It's Surface
But He Bases His Vision On False Premises

MrEd Loc: Georgia

Separation Of Church And State doesn't mean anything close to what the progressives say it means. They use that completely out of context and don't care that it means something else. It means what THEY say it means. This is total BS and they need to get off that kick and the SC needs to be told where to go and what to do. They are trampling all over our rights and using f**e definitions to make their laws read what they want them to be. It's past time a few of them were impeached and told to go home and NOT come back.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Ed, assuming you read the entire piece, I was more interested in your opinion of this man's thoughts. He was born and raised in the heart of the 'Bible Belt', living here his entire life. After years of pastoring in a Southern Baptist associated church, I thought his views were well within reason, as he spoke from the heart. He is hardly a member of any Muslim or terrorist group, as our friend Karpenter seems to imply.

I hoped to hear people's opinion of his thoughts, not the political volleyball of the SCOTUS's rulings. You can't get more faith-based than this guy. I am not looking for a political brawl, just one's thoughts on the piece. :wink:

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Thank you for your input, Karpenter. Peace be with you.

karpenter Loc: Headin' Fer Da Hills !!

'The Supreme Court Is The Supreme Law Of The Land'
The Left Would Have Us Consider Them Our MULLAS !!
(As The Left Whispers To Their Ears, Of Course)

karpenter Loc: Headin' Fer Da Hills !!

I Have Not Implied He Is A Muslim

I Stated Out Loud That He Is An Adherent To Non-Judgemental,
I'm OK, You're OK Moral Equivalence.
Moral Equivalence Means We Decide For Ourselves
What Is Right Or Wrong, Who's Qualified To Say Otherwise ??
All Value Systems Must Be Accepted As Equally Valid

This Is Not Only A False Theology
It A Dangerously False Theology

America Is Drowning In Moral Equivalence

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

My apology for the wrong perception. You are, perhaps, just judgemental...even self-righteous. You are entitled as well as others, to be so. There is danger in that, also.

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

Very good article. No doubt there are people who will oppose this. Why? I do not understand other than they wish to inject their own version of what separation of church and state should mean

Rdjarhead Loc: Oklahoma

One of the bests descriptions I've ever read