Nothing in the First Amendment converts our schools into religion
free zones.
"Separation of church and state" is paraphrased
from Thomas Jefferson and used by others in expressing an understanding of the
intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the
First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson was a man of deep religious conviction —
his conviction was that religion was a very personal matter, one which the
government had no business getting involved in. He was vilified by his political opponents for
his role in passage of the 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and for
his criticism of such biblical events as the Great Flood and the theological
age of the Earth. As president, he
discontinued the practice started by his predecessors George Washington and
John Adams of proclaiming days of fasting and thanksgiving.
Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association
in 1802 to answer a letter from them written in October 1801. The Danbury
Baptists were a religious minority in Connecticut, and they complained that in
their state, the religious liberties they enjoyed were not seen as immutable
rights, but as privileges granted by the legislature — as "favors
granted." Jefferson's reply did not
address their concerns about problems with state establishment of
religion — only of establishment on the national level. The letter contains the phrase "wall of
separation between church and state," which led to the short-hand for the Establishment
Clause that we use today: "Separation
of church and state."
The United States was not founded as a Christian nation. Judeo-Christian, Enlightenment, and English
Whig principles all provided an ideological foundation for our new nation. Nevertheless, biblical ideals and norms have
played a pivotal role in shaping the structure, standards, and practices of our
country. Today, some argue that the
separation of church and state necessitates that we divorce all religious
voices and values from our government. Daniel
Dreisbach, author of Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church
and State, contends that Jefferson’s metaphor, as interpreted by the courts,
has been improperly “used to inhibit religion’s ability to inform the public
ethic,” to thwart citizens from participating in politics guided by their
faith, and to prevent religious communities and institutions from speaking
prophetically in the public arena. The
founding fathers spoke eloquently, passionately, and often about the importance
of religiously-grounded morality to the success of their new republic and
provided governmental aid for religion in a variety of ways. The current effort to exclude religious
perspectives and ideals completely from government and ensure a naked, ideologically
“neutral” public square is at odds with the views of the founders, the history
of our country, and the well-being of our society.
This next quote I lifted directly from Thomas Jefferson’s
reply to the Danbuyr’s which reads in part - The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so
good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association,
give me the highest satisfaction. My
duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my
constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those
duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing. Believing
with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God,
that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate
powers of government reach actions only, & 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 & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of
the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere
satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all
his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his
social duties.
I reciprocate your
kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator
of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association,
assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802
So, when you hear that there is no room for religious
worship at or in schools or on their playing field, you are being once again
lied to. There is no law in this country
other than perhaps local ordinance to restrict religious activities on in or
near school properties. And, if you need
me to say this too, the same goes for government buildings – there is no
prohibition of religious activities in government buildings as well!
- · Students can pray in school as long as it does not disrupt class. Prayer before lunch or a test is certainly allowed. Students can also pray in groups during non-instructional time as long as it is not disruptive and student initiated.
- · Talent shows offer students the ability to share about themselves. They can sing and dance to Christian music or recite Christian poems. Their talent falls into the Free Speech category and is therefore protected by the Constitution.
- · The right to freedom of speech has always included the right to communicate, promote and advertise. This right is supported by both the Equal Access Act and the First Amendment Free Speech Clause.
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