The Wisdom of the Constitution

"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."

Thomas Jefferson

The Constiution of the United States of America is considered by many religions and religious leaders to be a divinely inspired document, or that the founding fathers were in some way inspired by God, to write it. And considering the beauty and simplicity of the document and the profound wisdom contained therein, its not suprising that those beliefs are widespread. What is surprising however is the rapidly expanding attempts of churches and religious leaders to mingle "their" religious beliefs and influence into "our" government.

It is surprising because the very Constitution they herald and the men who crafted it forbid any such mingling. Extensive writings by the found fathers on the subject, from Jefferson to Madison clearly outline the meaning of the "seperation clause" and warn of the "evils" as Madison called them, of mingling the two. After all, still smarting from the iron rule of the Mother Church of England, most of our founding fathers were well aware of the horror tales handed down by their parents and grandparents who knew first hand the taste of the inquistors rack. They had seen church and state mingled before, and did not need reminding of inevitable outcome. When church is mingled with government even with the best of intentions, it always turns out bad. Very, very bad.

Today those of us familiar with current events see the results of religious theocracy in the Middle East and thus have little excuse for expecting one to work any better in our own country. Just because some believe that their theocracy would be the "right one" doesn't change the reality of the evils a theorcracy brings. Once a church, any church, even a group of churches have sway over our government, then those who do not share their beliefs, and those without beliefs find themselves out in the cold. Shunned by the pack of those who believe in the right god or book and ultimately persecuted for their non beliefs or heretical beliefs. Yet for some reason there are many religious leaders, groups and lay persons who either don't see this or don't want to see it and thus push for a mingling of "their" religious convictions with our government. Either way the end result is clear. Religious beliefs directing national laws. And whether good or bad, benevolant or malevolant, its still a recipe for destruction to any civilized society. Religious authority which claims to be from an ominipotent god becomes ominipotent authority. And absolute power ultimately corrupts as history invariabily demonstrates. Its a shame religious groups and leaders cannot learn the lessons of history, or for that matter the lessons of modern current events. Religion and government do not mix. They have never mixed, not well at least. The outcome is always the same. And yet today the calls for mingling some churches with our government, the use of religion, public prayer and references to particular faiths by political candidates and politicians is dominating the spectrum.

It seems we would have learned by now.

Edict of Thessalonica

 

 

It is our desire that all the various nations which are subject to our Clemency and Moderation, should continue to profess that religion which was delivered to the Romans by the divine Apostle Peter, as it has been preserved by faithful tradition, and which is now professed by the Pontiff Damasus and by Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, a man of apostolic holiness. According to the apostolic teaching and the doctrine of the Gospel, let us believe in the one deity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in equal majesty and in a holy Trinity.

 

We authorize the followers of this law to assume the title of Catholic Christians; but as for the others, since, in our judgment they are foolish madmen, we decree that they shall be branded with the ignominious name of heretics, and shall not presume to give to their conventicles the name of churches.

 

They will suffer in the first place the chastisement of the divine condemnation and in the second the punishment of our authority which in accordance with the will of Heaven we shall decide to inflict. - —Codex Theodosianus, xvi.1.2

 

Does Science Contradict the Bible?

The Bible teaches us that God created our brains and commanded us to use them. Burying our talents is contrary to the lessons from the scriptures. Science permits us to understand the universe we inhabit and how and when it came into existence. Religion and Faith permits us to examine the why, behind the how and when. Using Science means using the talents and capabilities that were given us to understand the universe around us. Without science man is left groping in the dark, and mysticism and superstition find fertile breeding grounds in such environments to thrive in. Science shines a light on reality and the environment in which we live and helps us understand the nature of God by examining his creations and seeing how he chose to design the universe in which we exist. Combined science and religion can bring us closer to understanding our environment and purpose here.