Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

Calgaryborn · 08-19-2010, 07:31 PM

I don't think the founding Fathers intended the separation of church and State to be one where there would be no expression of religion within government. If it was then they obviously failed early and often in adhering to separation of the two. The intent was that the Federal Government should have no authority over the free exercise of religion and conversely that the church(as an organization) should have no authority over the Federal Government. Basically the intent was to avoid the marriage of church and State as seen in Catholic nations as well as England and Germany.

It should also be noted that after the Constitution was adopted several States continued to maintain a church tax which went to whatever denomination started the colony. The provision within the Constitution was a limitation imposed on the Federal Government alone. Whereas the freedom to practice ones religion was granted to all citizens.

Rhode Island was the only colony to never have a State church. It was the only Baptist colony.

08-19-2010, 07:31 PM	#250
Calgaryborn Lifetime Suspension Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Creston Exp:	I don't think the founding Fathers intended the separation of church and State to be one where there would be no expression of religion within government. If it was then they obviously failed early and often in adhering to separation of the two. The intent was that the Federal Government should have no authority over the free exercise of religion and conversely that the church(as an organization) should have no authority over the Federal Government. Basically the intent was to avoid the marriage of church and State as seen in Catholic nations as well as England and Germany. It should also be noted that after the Constitution was adopted several States continued to maintain a church tax which went to whatever denomination started the colony. The provision within the Constitution was a limitation imposed on the Federal Government alone. Whereas the freedom to practice ones religion was granted to all citizens. Rhode Island was the only colony to never have a State church. It was the only Baptist colony.