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Examination On the Secular State - Part II

DE.CIVITATE.PROFANA

(On the Secular State)

Part II

Examination I

    First, in opening this argument, I would have it understood that I myself do not wish an establishment of religion to become my government. I believe that the worst thing any religion can do, the Christian Religions in particular, is to become a government. The primary focus of governments is now, as it always has been and always will be, the establishment and maintenance of its own power and authority. Governments have historically done whatever they saw as requisite to this purpose, and can be expected to continue to so behave so long as they exist, since all governments trade in power and authority. When a religion becomes a government it will inevitably come to behave as a government. This will corrupt it from its true purpose – religious instruction – and encourage resentment not only of the religion itself, but also of the very ideals they exist to teach. The most tragic event in the entire history of Christianity was when the Church of Rome became the de facto international religious government of the western regions of Christendom.

    The first mentioned argument shall be first examined. In the above referenced clauses of the Constitution of the United States, those being the only two mentions of religion (to include any synonymous terms, such as “church”) in the entire of the Constitution, no where do we find the phrase, “A wall of separation between church and state.” Therefore, upon what basis has this phrase come to carry the force of law, or be interpreted as law? This phrase is not law; it is the assessment of Thomas Jefferson of an effect of the Constitution. This phrase was penned in a reply to “Messrs. Nehemiah Dodge and Others, a Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association, in the State of Connecticut” written on 1 January, 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Jefferson wrote:

     “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.”

     However astute and accurate Mr. Jefferson’s statement is – and it is entirely so – that statement is not law. That statement has not the force of law. That statement is solely the view of one man, however brilliant, of an effect of the Constitution. That statement is not binding upon either the Government, States or the people of the United States. The interpretations of the Supreme Court predicated upon that phrase that have given it the force of law are, therefore, without a factual basis, but are rather entirely extrapolative.