Why Madison Was Right On Church & State

Mustang Bobby has two posts here and here on the Jefferson County, Missouri legislators' bill that would make Christianity the official religion. The reason is it's part of the war on terrorism.

Whereas, with a clear majority of people in favor of such an amendment, the United States Congress should be moving with deliberate speed to consider the matter, especially given the events of September 11, 2001, the pending threat of war with Iraq, the escalation of tensions with North Korea, and the ongoing war on terror being waged in Afghanistan:

The KMOV.com article, that Atrios links to, that Bobby quoted misstates the bill's intent. The bill is for school prayer. That doesn't make it a good bill. Bloggers should spend the extra two minutes to look up the bill. Nothing personal against Duncan or Bobby. Alternet picked up Atrios's post and made the same mistake.

The bill may have been rewritten. If anyone has a link to the new draft, send me the link. I'll be happy to make a correction.

James Madison wrote, "Mysteries indeed! But mysteries belong to religion, not to government; to the ways of the Almighty, not to the works of man." Madison is also called the Father of the Constitution.

The Founding Fathers wanted to keep religion and the state separate. The fear was both institutions would form alliances and abuse power. Madison wrote, "In most of the Govt of the old world, the legal establishment of a particular religion and without or with very little toleration of others makes a part of the Political and Civil organization and there are few of the most enlightened judges who will maintain that the system has been favorable either to Religion or to Govt." What Madison is saying is you get lousy government and churches when the two unite. That's why Samuel Alito's letter to James Dobson should scare people.

Give to Bush what is Bush's, and to Dobson what is God's.

Update: The language Bobby and Atrios quotes is the introduction to the bill (or resolution). It's the current draft. You can read Bobby's rebuttal.

Whereas, our forefathers of this great nation of the United States recognized a Christian God and used the principles afforded to us by Him as the founding principles of our nation; and

Whereas, as citizens of this great nation, we the majority also wish to exercise our constitutional right to acknowledge our Creator and give thanks for the many gifts provided by Him; and

Whereas, as elected officials we should protect the majority's right to express their religious beliefs while showing respect for those who object; and

Whereas, we wish to continue the wisdom imparted in the Constitution of the United States of America by the founding fathers; and

Whereas, we as elected officials recognize that a Greater Power exists above and beyond the institutions of mankind:

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, that we stand with the majority of our constituents and exercise the common sense that voluntary prayer in public schools and religious displays on public property are not a coalition of church and state, but rather the justified recognition of the positive role that Christianity has played in this great nation of ours, the United States of America.