{"id":2272997,"date":"2024-06-20T20:04:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T00:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leftists-cry-separation-of-church-and-state-over-new-ten-commandments-law-heres-a-history-lesson-for-them\/"},"modified":"2024-06-20T20:07:27","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T00:07:27","slug":"leftists-cry-separation-of-church-and-state-over-new-ten-commandments-law-heres-a-history-lesson-for-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leftists-cry-separation-of-church-and-state-over-new-ten-commandments-law-heres-a-history-lesson-for-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Leftists Invoke &#8216;Separation of Church and State&#8217; Against New Ten Commandments Law &#8211; A Brief History Lesson"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fleftists-cry-separation-of-church-and-state-over-new-ten-commandments-law-heres-a-history-lesson-for-them%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2272997&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The summary focuses on the controversy surrounding the new law in Louisiana signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, which mandates the display\u200d of the Ten Commandments\u2063 in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-mayor-orders-teachers-back-into-classrooms-union-vows-to-call-a-strike\/\" title=\"Chicago Mayor Orders Teachers Back Into Classrooms, Union Vows To Call A Strike\">public school classrooms<\/a>. \u2063This action has sparked substantial backlash and debates over the separation of\u200c church and state, a principle derived from\u200b a \u200dphrase in a letter by Thomas Jefferson. Critics, including the ACLU,\u200b argue that the law blurs the lines between state and religion, essentially transforming \u200dpublic \u200cschools into religious institutions. The article delves into Jefferson&#8217;s original intentions \u200dwith his phrase and discusses how modern interpretations align\u2014or do not\u2014with his views.\u200c The predominantly negative reactions share a common reliance on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-washed-up-leftists-who-found-homes-in-academia\/\" title=\"5 Washed Up Leftists Who Found Homes In Academia\">historical context<\/a> of Jefferson&#8217;s words,\u200d which were specific to preventing government establishment \u2064of religion rather than removing religious references from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/history-repeats-itself-democrats-are-using-tactics-of-the-marxists-of-1917-in-russia-to-steal-2020-election\/\" title=\"History Repeats Itself: Democrats Are Using Tactics of the Marxists of 1917 in Russia to Steal 2020 Election\">public sphere<\/a> entirely. The law also includes\u2063 a provision for\u2064 the historical context\u2063 of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing their\u200c influence rather than religious advocacy.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_5)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_6)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Rarely have seven innocuous words, misinterpreted and then amplified, caused so much mischief.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana ignited leftist outrage by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ten-commandments-must-displayed-public-school-classrooms-according-new-state-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">signing a bill<\/a> that requires all the state\u2019s public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.<\/p>\n<p>Predictably, opponents of the bill cited a paraphrased version of a line that appeared in an 1802 letter written by President Thomas Jefferson: \u201cwall of separation between church and state.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"IC1-ad\" class=\"sponsor IC1\">\n<div class=\"ad-notice flipboard-remove\" fl:fl-noexcerpt=\"true\">Advertisement &#8211; story continues below<\/div>\n<div id=\"IC1\"> <script> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '#IC1-ad' ).style.display='none';} else if( 'IC1' !='REP' && FFADS.units.IC1 && FFADS.units.IC1.ad_type=='custom' && FFADS.units.IC1.custom_ads && ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'IC1' ).innerHTML=FFADS.units.IC1.custom_ads[0].code; \t\t\t\tif( ! FFADS.units.IC1.lazy_load ) eval( FFADS.units.IC1.custom_ads[0].rendering_script ); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As we shall see, the use of that \u201cseparation\u201d phrase to attack Louisiana\u2019s law amounts to an act of sophistry.<\/p>\n<p>No doubt anticipating such objections, Louisiana earmarked no state money for the mandate\u2019s implementation, relying instead on private funds.<\/p>\n<div id=\"in-article-trending\" class=\"in-article-more inner-content\">\n<div class=\"in-article-more-label\">Trending:<\/div>\n<div class=\"in-article-more-right\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/cbs-forced-delete-segment-embarrassing-biden-reporting-history-exposed-air\/\" data-type=\"Internal link\" data-type-location=\"in-content-trending\">CBS Forced to Delete Segment After Most Embarrassing Biden Reporting in History Exposed On-Air<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Likewise, to affirm that the mandated display constitutes an acknowledgement of the Ten Commandments\u2019 historical significance, not an endorsement of a particular religious creed, the law also requires a four-paragraph context statement tying the Ten Commandments to American foundational documents.<\/p>\n<p>That, of course, did not satisfy the bill\u2019s opponents.<\/p>\n<div id=\"IC2-ad\" class=\"sponsor IC2\">\n<div class=\"ad-notice flipboard-remove\" fl:fl-noexcerpt=\"true\">Advertisement &#8211; story continues below<\/div>\n<div id=\"IC2\"> <script> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '#IC2-ad' ).style.display='none';} else if( 'IC2' !='REP' && FFADS.units.IC2 && FFADS.units.IC2.ad_type=='custom' && FFADS.units.IC2.custom_ads && ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'IC2' ).innerHTML=FFADS.units.IC2.custom_ads[0].code; \t\t\t\tif( ! FFADS.units.IC2.lazy_load ) eval( FFADS.units.IC2.custom_ads[0].rendering_script ); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cBREAKING: We\u2019re suing Louisiana for requiring all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cdc-director-schools-are-safe-places-for-kids-during-pandemic\/\" title=\"CDC Director: Schools Are Safe Places for Kids During Pandemic\">public schools<\/a> to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. Public schools are not Sunday schools,\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/bidens-border-action-immediately-hit-challenge-side-aclu-announces-lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Civil Liberties Union<\/a> tweeted.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING: We\u2019re suing Louisiana for requiring all public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.<\/p>\n<p>Public schools are not Sunday schools.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ACLU (@ACLU) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ACLU\/status\/1803543375938719757?\">June 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\" class=\"one-half\">\n<div class=\"firefly-poll-question\">Should more states follow Louisiana&#8217;s lead?<\/div>\n<div id=\"pollFormBox\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<form id=\"firefly-poll\" class=\"firefly-poll\" onsubmit=\"ff_poll_submit( event );\"> <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"action\" value=\"firefly_polls_record_vote\"> <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"3701072\"> <label><input type=\"radio\" name=\"answer\" value=\"yes\" required=\"required\">Yes<\/label> <label><input type=\"radio\" name=\"answer\" value=\"no\" required=\"required\">No<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" placeholder=\"Enter your email\" required=\"required\"> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-poll-disclaimer\">  Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge via email. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/about\/privacy-policy\/\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/about\/terms-service\/\">Terms of Use<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-results\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-results-yes\" style=\"width: 94%\">  Yes: 94% (15 Votes) <\/div>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-results-no\" style=\"width: 6%\">  No: 6% (1 Votes) <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\tfunction ffp_getCookie(cname) { \t\t\tvar name=cname + \"=\"; \t\t\tvar decodedCookie=decodeURIComponent(document.cookie); \t\t\tvar ca=decodedCookie.split(';'); \t\t\tfor(var i=0; i <ca.length; i++) { \t\t\t\tvar c=ca[i]; \t\t\t\twhile (c.charAt(0)==' ') { \t\t\t\t\tc=c.substring(1); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tif (c.indexOf(name)==0) { \t\t\t\t\treturn c.substring(name.length, c.length); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t} \t\t\treturn \"\"; \t\t}  \t\tfunction ffp_setCookie(cname, cvalue, exdays) { \t\t\tvar d=new Date(); \t\t\td.setTime(d.getTime() + (exdays*24*60*60*1000)); \t\t\tvar expires=\"expires=\"+ d.toUTCString(); \t\t\tdocument.cookie=cname + \"=\" + cvalue + \";\" + expires + \";path=\/\"; \t\t}  \t\twindow.ff_poll_voted=false;  \t\tvar voted_cookie_name='firefly_voted_3701072';  \t\tfunction ff_poll_submit( event ) { \t\t\tevent.preventDefault();  \t\t\tvar fireflyPoll=jQuery( '#firefly-poll' ); \t\t\tvar fireflyPollContainer=jQuery('#firefly-poll-container'); \t\t\tvar pollFormBox=jQuery('#pollFormBox');  \t\t\tif( window.ff_poll_voted || ffp_getCookie( voted_cookie_name ) ){ return; } \t\t\twindow.ff_poll_voted=true;  \t\t\tfireflyPollContainer.addClass('loading');              \/\/Need to assign URL here as it was defined only in firefly.             var firefly_ajax_url='https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php';  \t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, jQuery( event.target ).serialize() );              \/\/Check the Datalayer             if(window.dataLayer){                 window.dataLayer=window.dataLayer || [];                 window.dataLayer.push( {                     'event': 'in-article poll vote',                     'pollAnswer': jQuery( 'input:radio[name=answer]:checked' ).val(),                     'pollName': jQuery( '.firefly-poll-question').text(),                     'pollSubmitMethod': 'email',                 } );             }  \t\t\tffp_setCookie( voted_cookie_name, 1, 7 );  \t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\tif( response.success ){ \t\t\t\t\tyes_el=document.getElementById( 'firefly-poll-results-yes' ); \t\t\t\t\tno_el=document.getElementById( 'firefly-poll-results-no' );  \t\t\t\t\tyes_el.style.width=response.data.percents.yes + '%'; \t\t\t\t\tyes_el.innerHTML='Yes: ' + response.data.percents.yes + '% (' + response.data.votes.yes + ' Votes)';  \t\t\t\t\tno_el.style.width=response.data.percents.no + '%'; \t\t\t\t\tno_el.innerHTML='No: ' + response.data.percents.no + '% (' + response.data.votes.no + ' Votes)';  \t\t\t\t\tfireflyPoll.remove();  \t\t\t\t\tpollFormBox.hide(); \t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'firefly-poll-results' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\tfireflyPollContainer.removeClass('loading'); \t\t\t}); \t\t};  \t\tif ( ffp_getCookie( voted_cookie_name ) ) { \t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'pollFormBox' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'firefly-poll-results' ).style.display='block'; \t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tif( ffp_getCookie( 'ff_source' )=='email' ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar emailField=document.querySelector( '#firefly-poll input[name=\"email\"]' ); \t\t\t\t\temailField.required=false; \t\t\t\t\temailField.style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t \t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'pollFormBox' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'firefly-poll-results' ).style.display='none'; \t\t} \t<\/script> <\/p>\n<style> \t\t \t\t#firefly-poll-container { \t\t\tborder: 2px solid #d6d6d6; \t\t\tpadding: 15px; \t\t\tmargin-left: 0; \t\t\tmargin-right: 15px; \t\t\tmargin-bottom: 15px; \t\t\twidth: 50%; \t\t\tfloat: left; \t\t\tbackground: #ddd; \t\t\tborder-radius: 3px; \t\t}  \t\t#firefly-poll-container input[type=email] { \t\t\tmargin-top: 5px; \t\t\tmargin-bottom: 5px; \t\t\tpadding-top: 10px; \t\t\tpadding-bottom: 10px; \t\t\tpadding-left: 10px; \t\t\tbackground-color: #F5F5F5; \t\t\tborder-radius: 3px; \t\t\tborder-color: #d6d6d6; \t\t\tborder: 1px solid #d6d6d6; \t\t}  \t\t#firefly-poll-container input[type=submit] { \t\t\tpadding: 10px; \t\t\tborder: 1px solid #d6d6d6; \t\t\tcursor: pointer; \t\t}  \t\t#firefly-poll-results-yes { \t\t\tbackground-color: lightgrey; \t\t\twhite-space: nowrap; \t\t\tmargin-bottom: 5px; \t\t\tborder-radius: 4px; \t\t\tpadding-left: 5px; \t\t}  \t\t#firefly-poll-results-no { \t\t\tbackground-color: lightgrey; \t\t\twhite-space: nowrap; \t\t\tborder-radius: 4px; \t\t\tpadding-left: 5px; \t\t}  \t\t.firefly-poll-question { \t\t\tfont-weight: bold; \t\t\tfont-size: var( --big-font-size ); \t\t}  \t\t.firefly-poll-Disclaimer { \t\t\tfont-size: var(--smallest-font-size); \t\t}  \t\t@media ( max-width: 768px ) { \t\t\t#firefly-poll-container { \t\t\t\twidth: 90%; \t\t\t\tmargin-left: 20px; \t\t\t} \t\t} \t<\/style>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Displaying the Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of the Judeo-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/celtics-coach-wears-christian-faith-shirt-live-espn-winning-nba-title\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christian<\/a> tradition that undergirds all of Western civilization, would transform public schools into Sunday schools? Where might the confused and litigious folks at the ACLU get such an idea?<\/p>\n<p>They got it from Jefferson\u2019s \u201cseparation\u201d phrase, of course, but not from any real understanding of what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/founders-slavery-vivek-ramaswamy-defended-thomas-jefferson-confidence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jefferson<\/a> meant.<\/p>\n<div id=\"IC3-ad\" class=\"sponsor IC3\">\n<div class=\"ad-notice flipboard-remove\" fl:fl-noexcerpt=\"true\">Advertisement - story continues below<\/div>\n<div id=\"IC3\"> <script> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '#IC3-ad' ).style.display='none';} else if( 'IC3' !='REP' && FFADS.units.IC3 && FFADS.units.IC3.ad_type=='custom' && FFADS.units.IC3.custom_ads && ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'IC3' ).innerHTML=FFADS.units.IC3.custom_ads[0].code; \t\t\t\tif( ! FFADS.units.IC3.lazy_load ) eval( FFADS.units.IC3.custom_ads[0].rendering_script ); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cHere\u2019s the deal: We stop pretending there is any kind of separation of church and state here. Tax them. Tax them hard,\u201d one person wrote Wednesday on the social media platform X.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Here\u2019s the deal: We stop pretending there is any kind of separation of church and state here. Tax them. Tax them hard.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Strandjunker\/status\/1803530803449622546?\">June 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"in-article-related\" class=\"in-article-more inner-content\">\n<div class=\"in-article-more-label\">Related:<\/div>\n<div class=\"in-article-more-right\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/couples-sue-kicked-state-foster-care-program-christian-beliefs\/\" data-type=\"Internal link\" data-type-location=\"in-content-related\">Couples Sue After Being Kicked Out of State Foster Care Program Over Christian Beliefs<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSeparate church and state,\u201d the organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State tweeted.<\/p>\n<div id=\"IC4-ad\" class=\"sponsor IC4\">\n<div class=\"ad-notice flipboard-remove\" fl:fl-noexcerpt=\"true\">Advertisement - story continues below<\/div>\n<div id=\"IC4\"> <script> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '#IC4-ad' ).style.display='none';} else if( 'IC4' !='REP' && FFADS.units.IC4 && FFADS.units.IC4.ad_type=='custom' && FFADS.units.IC4.custom_ads && ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'IC4' ).innerHTML=FFADS.units.IC4.custom_ads[0].code; \t\t\t\tif( ! FFADS.units.IC4.lazy_load ) eval( FFADS.units.IC4.custom_ads[0].rendering_script ); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Separate church and state.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jy5OdknWUO\">https:\/\/t.co\/jy5OdknWUO<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/X4bR4eUy1Y\">pic.twitter.com\/X4bR4eUy1Y<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Americans United (@americansunited) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/americansunited\/status\/1803520704568230049?\">June 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In other words, leftist objections to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/band-louisiana-catholics-shield-community-diabolical-pride-parade\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Louisiana<\/a> law rest on the phrase \u201cseparation of church and state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Alas, that famous phrase\u2019s historical context does not support the leftist interpretation.<\/p>\n<p>Sometime after Oct. 7, 1801 \u2014 the precise date remains unknown \u2014 a three-man committee representing the Danbury Baptist Association, a group of 26 Baptist churches in western Connecticut and eastern New York, wrote a <a href=\"https:\/\/founders.archives.gov\/?q=Volume%3AJefferson-01-35&#038;s=1511311112&#038;r=336\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> congratulating their \u201cbeloved\u201d Jefferson on his election to the presidency and laying out principles with which they knew he would agree.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSir, we are sensible that the President of the united States, is not the national Legislator, & also sensible that the national goverment cannot destroy the Laws of each State; but our hopes are strong that the sentiments of our beloved President, which have had such genial Effect already, like the radiant beams of the Sun, will shine & prevail through all these States and all the world till Hierarchy and tyranny be destroyed from the Earth,\u201d the letter read.<\/p>\n<p>The authors even suggested to the president that \u201cAmerica\u2019s God has raised you up to fill the chair of State out of that good will which he bears to the Millions which you preside over.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd may the Lord preserve you safe from every evil and bring you at last to his Heavenly Kingdom throug <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/j6er-reveals-jesus-saved-life-fbi-itching-something-happen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jesus Christ<\/a> our Glorious Mediator,\u201d the letter concluded.<\/p>\n<p>Jefferson <a href=\"https:\/\/founders.archives.gov\/?q=Volume%3AJefferson-01-36&#038;s=1511311112&#038;r=164\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">did not receive<\/a> this remarkable letter until Dec. 30. Nor did it reach him without fanfare. In fact, the same itinerant preacher who carried the letter also delivered a now-legendary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monticello.org\/research-education\/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia\/mammoth-cheese\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">giant wheel of cheese<\/a> made by the citizens of Cheshire, Massachusetts, another Baptist stronghold in a state that <a href=\"https:\/\/firstamendment.mtsu.edu\/article\/established-churches-in-early-america\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">did not disestablish<\/a> its Congregational Church until 1833.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, Jefferson had New England Baptists on the mind as the New Year approached. It might even have been the reason he <a href=\"https:\/\/founders.archives.gov\/documents\/Jefferson\/01-36-02-0148\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">invited<\/a> Republican Rep. William Eustis of Massachusetts to dine with him.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next two days, the president\u2019s reply to the Danbury Baptist Association went through two drafts.<\/p>\n<p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/founders.archives.gov\/?q=Volume%3AJefferson-01-36&#038;s=1511311112&#038;r=165\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first draft<\/a>, he explained why, as president, he had avoided proclaiming religious fast days. But another New England Republican who reviewed the draft encouraged the president to excise that passage, so he did.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/founders.archives.gov\/?q=Volume%3AJefferson-01-36&#038;s=1511311112&#038;r=169\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">second and final draft<\/a> preserved the remainder of the original nearly verbatim.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBelieving with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fathers-prepared-battle-leading-armor-god\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">God<\/a>, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the\u00a0legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that <em>their<\/em> legislature should \u2018make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,\u2019 thus building a wall of separation between Church & State,\u201d Jefferson\u2019s famous second paragraph began.<\/p>\n<p>Why take readers so deep into the weeds with this Jefferson letter? What could all this historical context possibly tell us? And what difference does it make?<\/p>\n<p>For one thing, it reminds us that in 1802 those New England states had long-established (i.e. tax-supported) churches.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, while Jefferson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monticello.org\/research-education\/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia\/virginia-statute-religious-freedom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">did not approve<\/a> of established churches, he made no effort to influence state laws. Indeed, he could not have done so had he wished. As the Danbury Baptists noted, the president \u201cis not the national Legislator,\u201d nor could the federal government \u2014 and that includes every branch of the federal government \u2014 \u201cdestroy the Laws of each State.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the president\u2019s consultation with several New England Republicans suggests that he intended his letter, once published, primarily for an audience of New England Republicans, in this case Baptists who shared the president\u2019s views on religious freedom. And that suggests a political act, not a statement meant to clarify, alter or forever enshrine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/catholic-group-sues-biden-administration-blatant-violation-first-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">First Amendment\u2019s<\/a> meaning.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, note Jefferson\u2019s use of the word \u201cwhole,\u201d as well as his italicization of the word \u201ctheir.\u201d The \u201cwhole American people\u201d had declared that \u201c<em>their <\/em>legislature\u201d would make no laws establishing religion or inhibiting its exercise.<\/p>\n<p>Why would Jefferson italicize \u201ctheir\u201d unless he meant to refer to the legislature of the \u201cwhole American people\u201d only? That tells us that Jefferson recognized the First Amendment as binding on Congress but not on state legislatures.<\/p>\n<p>In sum, could a seven-word phrase from a 222-year-old letter \u2014 written for a special purpose, expressing principles that denied the First Amendment\u2019s applicability to the states\u00a0 and responding to a letter that did the same \u2014 really keep a cornerstone of Western civilization out of public schools?<\/p>\n<p>Leftists believe that it can. And they believe it because, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/aclu-seeks-overturn-law-increases-penalties-prostitutes-sell-services-knowing-hiv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACLU<\/a> tweet illustrated, they have relied on courts to ensure that it does.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, in a brilliant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritage.org\/political-process\/report\/the-mythical-wall-separation-how-misused-metaphor-changed-church-state-law\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2006 essay<\/a>, Daniel Dreisbach of the Heritage Foundation, author of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Jefferson-Separation-Between-Critical-America\/dp\/0814719368\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">book<\/a>, \u201cThomas Jefferson and the Wall of Separation Between Church and State,\u201d explained how federal courts spent decades twisting Jefferson\u2019s casual \u201cwall\u201d metaphor into a \u201chigh and impregnable\u201d barrier.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, the very mechanism on which \u201cseparation of church and state\u201d advocates depend for the enforcement of the Jeffersonian phrase they have misinterpreted happens to be the very mechanism <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-ramaswamy-echoing-thomas-jeffersons-pro-america-anti-establishment-wisdom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jefferson<\/a> himself most feared.<\/p>\n<p>In an 1819 <a href=\"https:\/\/founders.archives.gov\/documents\/Jefferson\/03-15-02-0014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a>, Jefferson denounced the activist federal judiciary of his day. Courts, he argued, could not \u201cusurp\u201d the power to interpret the Constitution\u2019s meaning. If they did, it would make the entire Constitution a \u201cfelo de se\u201d \u2014 an act of suicide.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor intending to establish three departments, coordinate and independant, that they might check and balance one another, it has given, according to this opinion, to one of them alone the right to prescribe rules for the government of the others; and to that one too which is unelected by, and independent of, the nation,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, outraged leftists who hope to invalidate Louisiana\u2019s Ten Commandments law based on their own misunderstanding or distortion of Jefferson\u2019s famous phrase will find that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/heroes-american-history-conspiracy-theorists\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jefferson<\/a> himself refutes them at every turn.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">\n<h3 class=\"ff-fancy-header\">Truth and Accuracy<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-button\" onclick=\" \t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .correction-form form' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\tif( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { \t\t\t\t\tlet cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); \t\t\t\t\tcap_s.src='https:\/' + '\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild( cap_s ); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\">  Submit a Correction \u2192 <\/div>\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-email-field\"> <label>* Email<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"email\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\temail:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"email\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', 'email', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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class=\"share-btn-action\">Share<\/span> <\/a> <\/span> <script> \t\t\tvar a2a_config=a2a_config || {}; \t\t\ta2a_config.prioritize=[\"facebook\", \"twitter\", \"email\", \"linkedin\", \"google_gmail\", \"telegram\", \"mewe\", \"sms\"]; \t\t\ta2a_config.ff_appended=false; \t\t<\/script><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45760\" class=\"author-info inner-content\">\n<div class=\"author-image\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  <\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-meta-text\">\n<div class=\"name author-meta-title\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">  Michael Schwarz <\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"firefly_job_title author-meta-value\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-tabs\"> <input type=\"radio\" name=\"ff-author-tab-45760\" value=\"summary-tab\" id=\"summary-tab-radio-45760\" checked><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45760\">Summary<\/label><input type=\"radio\" name=\"ff-author-tab-45760\" 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He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-tab more-info-tab\">\n<div class=\"firefly_long_bio author-meta-value\">  Michael Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in History and has taught at multiple colleges and universities. He has published one book and numerous essays on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Early U.S. Republic. He loves dogs, baseball, and freedom. After meandering spiritually through most of early adulthood, he has rediscovered his faith in midlife and is eager to continue learning about it from the great Christian thinkers. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-tab contact-tab\">\n<form> <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"contact_author_nonce\" name=\"contact_author_nonce\" value=\"c4bd32b9ce\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/leftists-cry-separation-church-state-new-ten-commandments-law-history-lesson\/\"> <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"3701072\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ma-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"ma-email-field\"> <label>* Email<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"email\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label class=\"message-label\">* Message<\/label> <textarea name=\"message\" class=\"message-textarea\" required><\/textarea> <\/p>\n<p> <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"author_id\" value=\"45760\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"firefly_ma( 45760 ); event.preventDefault(); return false;\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-ma-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-tab posts-tab\">\n<div class=\"author-headline\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/leftists-cry-separation-church-state-new-ten-commandments-law-history-lesson\/\">Leftists Cry 'Separation of Church and State' Over New Ten Commandments Law - Here's a History Lesson for Them<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"author-headline\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trumps-interaction-wisconsin-police-officers-triggers-touch-leftists\/\">Trump's Interaction with Wisconsin Police Officers Triggers Out-of-Touch Leftists<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"author-headline\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/cbs-sports-hosts-side-angel-reese-say-edge-caitlin-clark-internets-gonna-hate\/\">CBS Sports Hosts Side with Angel Reese, Say She Has 'Edge' Over Caitlin Clark - 'Internet's Gonna Hate This'<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"author-headline\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/semi-driver-arrested-deadly-colorado-crash-deported-mexico-just-2-weeks-prior\/\">Semi Driver Arrested in Deadly Colorado Crash Had Been Deported to Mexico Just 2 Weeks Prior<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"author-headline\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-takes-off-gloves-swings-hard-rino-fox-news-board-member-total-lightweight\/\">Trump Takes Off the Gloves, Swings Hard at 'RINO' Fox News Board Member - 'He's a Total Lightweight'<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"author-headline\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/michael-schwarz\/\">See more...<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<div id=\"BA1-ad\" class=\"sponsor BA1\">\n<div class=\"ad-notice flipboard-remove\" fl:fl-noexcerpt=\"true\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<div id=\"BA1\"> <script> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '#BA1-ad' ).style.display='none';} else if( 'BA1' !='REP' && FFADS.units.BA1 && FFADS.units.BA1.ad_type=='custom' && FFADS.units.BA1.custom_ads && ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById( 'BA1' ).innerHTML=FFADS.units.BA1.custom_ads[0].code; \t\t\t\tif( ! 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This action led to significant backlash from opponents who cited a paraphrased version of a line related to the bill, causing widespread debate and outrage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2056,"featured_media":2272998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/10-commandment.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2272997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/10-commandment.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2056"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2272997"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272997\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2272998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2272997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2272997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2272997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}