Thomas Jefferson rejected establishment AND multiple-establishment wanted NON-establishment. It was important for Jefferson to keep religion out of government.
FUN FACT: Jefferson wanted exactly 3 things listed on his tombstone. 1: Founder of University of VA. 2: Drafter of Declaration of Independence. Now, pause and think. Think of all the awesome things Jefferson did. What would he want for #3? President of the US? Minister to France? Louisiana Purchase?
Nah.
3: Author of the Statue of Virginia for Religious Freedom, which rejected any kind of establishment and kept religion and state apart. This was a precursor to Amendment 1.
In part, it stated: Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities. And though we well know that this Assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of Legislation only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding Assemblies constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare that the rights hereby asserted, are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right.
Jefferson thought non establishment was more important than his presidency.
No comments:
Post a Comment