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.

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.

Muhammad taught his beliefs to very simple people, that worked the land and did not know how to either read or write. He devised a system of verses with the teachings that he invited the people to repeat as a form a prayer.

Long time after, those teachings were finally written. The problem is not the original teachings but the interpretation that were given to those verses by the Imams.

I do not see in any place in the Old Testament or the New one that the believers are supposed to torture, dismember or burnt those that they want to convert. The Catholic Church organized the Crusades that were supposed to do it and did it in many occasions.

If you read my commentary that is what I said. No matter how good the principles in the creed they were changed by the men at the head probably tempted by the sin(error) of power.

I was brought up as a Catholic. As soon I as started to read History I drove everybody crazy with all these questions. No valid answer besides "faith".

I am an individual that can think by myself. I looked for answers reading everything that I got hold of. I learnt that all religions basically say the same.

That the religion does not elevate you spiritually. It is your job to grow spiritually by being the best you can in your relation with other human beings. That you must find the goodness in yourself in order to become part of the goodness in God. And that God is universal.

In the jobs I was engaged, I had to interview people and determine their real needs and their potential. This does not make you feel powerful, on the contrary it shows you how fragile the humankind of which you are a part, is.

I do not care for what the religious communicators say. I prefer to watch their actions. I have been lucky because I have found a few good ones.

Now, going back to the reason for my original statement. For the political arena I prefer a secular government based on moral principles. The moral principles are as simple that a child can understand them. Wh**ever you are doing, it is either good or bad. And this is what every tenet tells you. And your genetic memory, too. Remember? The gut feeling?

Then if you want to follow your religious beliefs at home, you are free to do it.

The moral values are not in conflict with any religious creed. But do not try to impose your religious beliefs on others. Jesus never did it, he preached mostly with example. And he never denied his help to anybody regardless of their status or actions or profession.

Gandhi is another example of the same method.

I do not need to tell you that the mess we are in has been created by a change in values. Now the god is money. To correct this error will take some time.

We have children, let's start working by molding our children on the real values, good and bad. Let's not brainwash them at school by repeating dates and names out of context. Let's explain the children what we did right and what we did wrong and show them the consequences. Children are very intelligent, they will get the message.

It is not Utopia, it can be done. And it does not cost money. Take them to the library. Librarians are the best tool a parent can find to help with the children
development.

And last but not least, insist on a humanistic education, without religious shades. Leave the religion for the Sunday school.

God bless all and each of us.