A Separation That Oft Confuses Us

[True, the United States Constitution's First Amendment specifies "no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" but it's so often enshrined in modern debate about the role of faith in public and private life (you can't have one without the other), that it behooves us to review where the phrase separation of church and state comes from. And it's NOT the Constitution.

 

Yes, in President Jefferson's 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association the second word is between and not of, but aside from the semantic difference the idea is that it's impossible for one to exist without the other. A state-run church, one sticking point in many eighteenth-century colonists' minds and found expression, would be as bad and oppressive as a church-run state. Reading this may change no minds, but it may remind you who's on your side, and Whose side you're on.  -- David] 

 

Mr. President

 

To messers Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

 

Gentlemen

 

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.

 

(signed) Thomas Jefferson

 Jan.1.1802.