"Free exercise of religion . . . solid basis for freedom"

We have spent some time discussing Thomas Jefferson, as he is the author of the phrase, "separation of church and state", and is the one held up by many today as the leading authority on the Constitution and especially the First Amendment.

In these articles we do not wish to minimize his vital role in American Government and in the founding of this nation, but regarding the First Amendment alone, we have shown that:

• He was NOT a part of the Constitutional Convention that formed the First Amendment.
• His famous "separation" phrase was spoken not as a matter of public policy but in a private letter.
• His intent with that phrase was to show that the founders intended to protect religion from government and not otherwise.
• He instituted policies and issued statements as President that show that his idea of 'separation of church and state' and his interpretation of the First Amendment ran contrary to the interpretation popularly given in today's courts.

Now, let's hear from some of the other founders.   What were their motives in writing the First Amendment?  Did the founders we are going to hear from write the First Amendment to protect government from 'religious fanatics' who would seek to exercise an undue influence upon it?  Or, did they write the First Amendment to protect the free expression of religion that they saw as the only sure foundation and necessary support of a truly free and successful government? 

Decide for yourself.  Here are some of their words:

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars...The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them....Let it simply be asked, "Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert?"...And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.  Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds...reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.    George Washington

Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime & pure, [and] which denounces against the wicked eternal misery, and [which] insured to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.   Charles Carroll, Signer of the Declaration

The great pillars of all government and of social life... [are] virtue, morality, and religion.  This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.  Patrick Henry

One of the beautiful boasts of our municipal jurisprudence is that Christianity is a part of the Common Law...There never has been a period in which the Common Law did not recognize Christianity as lying at its foundations...I verily believe Christianity necessary to the support of civil society.  Joseph Story, U.S. Supreme Court Justice; Father of American Jurisprudence

We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.  I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.  Benjamin Franklin

The Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth... [and] laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.  John Quincy Adams

The Christian religion - its general principles - must ever be regarded among us as the foundation of civil society.  Daniel Webster

True religion always enlarges the heart and strengthens the social tie.  John Witherspoon

Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.  James Madison

The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.  Noah Webster

I have always considered Christianity as the strong ground of republicanism...It is only necessary for republicanism to ally itself to the Christian religion to overturn all the corrupted political and religious institutions in the world.  Benjamin Rush, Signer of the Declaration

The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and his apostles...and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.  Noah Webster

God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one may in the issue, tend to the support and establishment of both.  John Witherspoon, Signer of the Declaration

As guardians of the prosperity, liberty, and morals of the State, we are therefore bound by every injunction of patriotism and wisdom...to patronize public improvements and to cherish all institutions for the diffusion of religious knowledge and for the promotion of virtue and piety.  Daniel Tompkins, Governor of New York, Vice-President of the United States

While just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords to government its surest support.  George Washington

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed.... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people. 

Noah Webster

Does this sound like men who were afraid of religion and its role in civil government?  On the contrary, these sound like men who would protect at all costs the role of religion in society and its tie to government.  We must not think they envisioned a government that required religion or Christianity of its citizens.  However, we can see clearly from their writings that they founded the laws of this country upon the principles of Christianity as a necessary foundation for all other freedoms.  Further, we can see from their writings that the men who founded this country, far from being indifferent, skeptical, or fearful of religious expression, sought to promote and protect it as the only sure support of a free government.  I ask again, would the men quoted above write an amendment to save us all and our government from the tyranny of religion?  Or would they write an amendment to protect the "free exercise" of religion to ensure a solid basis for freedom from a tyrannical government?  

Which is the truth?  And what is happening today?

We're being sold a version of our founders that is a myth - pure and simple.   We're being asked to believe a version of Constitutional history which simply does not exist and that cannot be derived from the writings of the founders despite the twisted imaginations of those who are trying to do so.  We're not trying to protect religious tyranny.  On the contrary, we're trying to protect Americans from tyranny against religion.  For, as the founders have warned us, upon religious freedom alone rests our only sure freedom as Americans.

Read the quotes above again.  Such men would have joined in the fight.