Church and State - Gotta Keep 'Em Separated?

Christy Jenkins

What do the phrases ‘separation of church and state’ and ‘power to the people’ have in common? Neither one is mentioned in the Constitution. The difference between the phrases is that society assumes the first phrase is a law, while the second is just a slogan.

Today, this well-known phrase is used every time a religious issue surfaces in government. It’s assumed to be a part of the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence because it’s misrepresented by the media as a law of the land, similar to freedom of speech or the right to vote. Separation of church and state is NOT an amendment, a right, a law, or a statute of our country.

Brief History
There was a Baptist congregation in Danbury, Connecticut, who wrote to President Thomas Jefferson in 1802. They were concerned that a state or national religion would be established, and they would no longer be able to worship God as they wanted. Many had left England due to religious persecution, and they naturally wanted assurances from Jefferson that it wouldn’t happen again. He wrote back to the congregation, assuring them that there was a wall separating the church and the state, and they were in no danger of being persecuted by the government. The phrase was later quoted by the Supreme Court, and over the years it’s become an anthem for those looking to eradicate all mention of religion in a public setting.

[On a side note, can you imagine our President today actually taking the time to respond to concerns from a small Baptist congregation located in a state that’s got only 7 electoral votes? Unless it’s part of a carefully planned publicity stunt on the campaign trail during an election year, you’ll never see the President truly pay attention to the needs of the common man. Lobbyists, billionaires, and celebrities get face time with the powerful people in DC, and middle-class citizens are relegated to receiving scripted speeches written by others, below-par education systems, higher taxes, and increasing unemployment rates.]

The message of Jefferson‘s letter was that the authority of the church and the state should remain separated. The government wasn’t to have authority over churches, and the church wasn’t to have authority over the government - they were each autonomous institutions. In other words, The President of the US doesn’t have authority to order the Presbyterian Church to change their beliefs. Likewise, the Pope doesn’t have the power to impose a property tax on US citizens. Jefferson was reiterating that there would be freedom of religion, but secularists misuse his words now to promote freedom from religion.

Here’s a modern-day, real-life example of the principle Jefferson was referring to – Consider a married couple who is legally separated or divorced. The legal separation means that the wife and husband are now leading separate lives – the wife doesn’t have authority over her husband’s life, and vice versa (i.e., they are autonomous). Does it mean that they can never have any interaction with each other? Not at all. Any divorced couple with children can attest to the fact that their ‘separate’ lives will still overlap – the ‘separation’ means that one no longer has any say-so in the life of the other. It’s the same with the separation of church and state – it doesn’t mean that religion and government must be completely separate with absolutely no overlap. It simply means we can’t use the state to control the church, and we can’t use the church to control the state.

Critics may point out that the letter was penned by President Jefferson, and therefore was a reflection of the government’s stance on religion and the state. That would be a good argument IF the writings of our Founding Fathers (including Thomas Jefferson) didn’t frequently refer to God, a Creator, an Almighty Being, etc. Even official government documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, as well as a majority of state constitutions, openly reference a (gasp!) higher power. These men supported freedom of religion, but still found it appropriate to mention higher powers in federal documents, inaugural speeches, etc. Today, there are people who ignore the countless words of our Founding Fathers and blindly cling to one vague metaphor written by one man to one congregation in one personal letter.

Lesson for Today
Just because a phrase is familiar doesn’t mean it’s factual. If someone presents you with an argument, research it, even if it sounds like they might be right. Our society loves convenience, and being properly informed on an issue isn’t always convenient. The next time someone throws out the phrase ‘separation of church and state’, be sure to question them. Do they really understand the origin and meaning of the phrase, or are they simply repeating what they heard on TV? Watching an episode of ‘Law and Order’ doesn’t make you a lawyer, just like watching CNN doesn’t make you an informed citizen. Instead of relying on arrogant pseudo-intellectuals in the media to tell you what the Constitution says, go to your local library and look it up yourself.

People are always complaining that America has so many problems, and we’re failing as a nation – ignorance is one of the biggest reasons why. This article highlights just one very small example of how being ignorant on an issue can have far-reaching, dire consequences for years to come. We’re in danger of having the mention of God eliminated from our society simply because one well-intentioned, human being took the time to reiterate the concept of freedom of religion in a letter.

ADAM AND STEVE AND HIV

Kelly Epperson

As Americans, we owe immense gratitude to our government. Our political leaders seek to protect us from foreign threats (except terrorists, illegal immigration, and Islamic extremists), and now they seek to protect us from ourselves! The government has discovered what terrible lifestyles we lead, and it is determined to eliminate them. We eat too much salt, use too much oil, emit too much carbon, make too much money, and the list continues. There is one “lifestyle,” however, that the government has not attacked. In fact, the media openly encourages it by glamorizing it in TV programs. The “lifestyle” of homosexuality has had severe consequences for society, and yet those who would criticize it are called bigots or homophobes. Saying that homosexuality is morally wrong would send thousands of San Franciscans into a riot and make Barney Frank shake in his Dolce & Gabbana shoes. When we understand that homosexuality is a choice, and that choice has negative outcomes, we realize that homosexuality should not be encouraged, but rather exposed for the abomination that it is.

Homosexuality: nature or nurture?

Logically, if homosexuality is purely genetic, it is determined solely by DNA. For this reason, a set of identical twins should have the same sexual orientation. They should both be heterosexual or both be homosexual. Interestingly, the largest and most recent study conducted on homosexuality in twins found that only 52% of identical twins have the same sexual orientation. If homosexuality is genetic, that percent should be 100%. This fact alone disproves that homosexuality is genetic. Furthermore, species are designed to reproduce. Traits that diminish reproduction (or the desire to reproduce) are not called a minority, they’re called mutations.

Negative outcomes of homosexuality

1. Decrease in reproduction
While supporters of homosexuality would argue most ardently that gay marriage is just as valid as heterosexual marriage, they leave out an important component of marriage: CHILDREN! Heterosexual couples can reproduce, whereas a gay couple have never and will never be able to reproduce naturally; thus, homosexuality is, by its very definition, against nature. Gay activists will wring their hands and say that “One should no more deplore homosexuality than left-handedness” (1964). If everyone became left-handed, though, we would just need to change scissors and baseball gloves. If everyone became homosexual, it would wipe out the entire human race. See a difference?

2. Increase in the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
Currently, in the United States alone, there are over 1 million diagnosed with HIV, and almost 500,000 diagnosed with AIDS, the deadly disease that is caused by the HIV virus. Of those diagnosed with AIDS, over 75% are male, and almost two-thirds became infected through male-to-male sexual contact. The gay activists do not like to be bothered with such irrelevant things as facts. They just want to have their public, exhibitionist parades in peace. Isn’t that what we all want?

The fact is, promiscuity is higher among homosexuals, and there are plenty of statistics to support this claim. One study found that 85% of married females and 75% of married males report sexual fidelity in their marriages, while only 4.5% of homosexual males report fidelity in their relationships. Furthermore, a study done by Bell and Weinberg found that 43% of male white homosexuals had over 500 sexual partners, and 28% had over 1000. What does this mean? It means that HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are much more likely to be spread in the homosexual culture of sexual activity. It also means that homosexuality is literally killing thousands of people each year. Where is our government to protect us now?

What does the Word of God say?
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” Romans 1:26-28(NKJV). There is no room for private interpretation. God condemns homosexuality, and we must do the same.

The debate of homosexuality is critical for the future morality of our nation , and we must do our own research. Do not look to ABC or Rosie O’Donnell to decide for you. Find the truth, learn it, and speak it in love.

Want to find more statistics on homosexuality? Please visit:
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IS04C02
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1845227
http://www.avert.org

BASIC BELIEFS OF HUMANISM (PART 2)

BILL PRUETT

In the first article about Humanism, we surveyed the five basic beliefs identified by Jim L. Smith in his book, One Nation Under God or Man?: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Humanism. Those beliefs were Atheism, Evolution, Amorality, Autonomy, and One Socialist World-Wide Government.

The five following beliefs will help more clearly define the Humanism we face today. When we know the Humanist’s underlying belief system, we know our opponent, which is key to victory.

Statism
Statism is the belief in the power of the state versus the power of the individual. Therefore, by its very definition, statism supports the taking away of freedom from individuals and vesting such power in the state. Statists invariably believe they are taking away these freedoms “for the good of the people.” This idea is what makes them so dangerous. They actually believe they have a core-level obligation to take away our freedoms, “for our own good.”

If Socialists accept this false premise, they can justify anything! Their first premise is wrong! It is morally wrong! It violates the natural, unalienable rights of man endowed on him by his Creator! It destroys the idea that all men are created equal! Statism is diametrically opposed to Individualism, which cries out “Power to the People!” Individualism believes that the people should have the most power possible and surrender to the State only those powers which are necessary.

Every dictator devoted to Fascism, Socialism, Communism and every other totalitarian form of government has been a Statist. One would think the Twentieth Century would have taught Americans a lesson about Statism. If one were to rank the great murderers in history, undoubtedly Adolf Hitler, Vladimar Lenin, Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot would all be in the top ten. They all lived in the last century and they all were Statists to the core. They all rose to power “for the good of the people.”

Statists reject the natural rights of man from God and believe man’s rights come from the State. They believe the State must be ruled by the liberal elite, for they know best what is “for the good of the people.”

Utopianism
Utopianism is the belief that every individual is good and society must bring out that good in each person. If a person behaves badly, they are not individually responsible, but rather it is society which has failed them. This leads Utopianists to believe that, because every man is inherently good, society can make a perfect society at some point. If the “best and brightest” individuals [defined as “liberal elites, social progressives, etc.”] control the state, then the State will maximize the good life for all of the good people.

Moral Relativity
While Statism removes all freedom from the individual, Utopianism removes all responsibility from the individual. The only responsibility the individual has at this point is his duty to the state. This duty to the state supersedes all other responsibilities because the State is his protector, his defender, indeed, his lord. Humanist beliefs have erased God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, man’s soul, natural rights, and morality. Humanists’ morality becomes a definition of whatever is “useful to the State” because the State is the only source of law and morals for people that reject God.

Reject Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that is based on individual free choice and responsibility. If the individual is not free, capitalism cannot exist. The market forces of supply and demand will not work if the individual is not free to make choices. Similarly, if the individual is never rewarded for his choices, the result is not capitalism. In socialism, for instance, a person who willfully refuses to work and one who works very hard will both share in the fruits of the labor of the one.

Because capitalism requires free individuals to make up a free market, it is anathema to every Atheist, Statist, Utopian, Totalitarian, Socialist and Communist. These beliefs reject the idea of free individuals with natural rights from their Creator. Capitalism is an economic system for those who believe in Individualism because it is driven by individuals who are free to choose. As such, it is a threat to the Statist and Socialist goals of Humanists.

Reject Majority Rule
Humanists reject majority rule because it puts power in the hands of the individual citizens, instead of the state. Humanists do not believe the ignorant masses know how to govern themselves and they must rule us “for our own good.” They need to determine what is politically correct and what is not. Because they do not trust the ignorant masses, they do not believe in the voting process.

In America today, Humanists circumvent the voting process by Humanist Supreme Court Justices voting to ban school prayer, legalize abortion on demand in all 50 states, or legally discriminate in the name of Affirmative Action. The will of the people was disregarded in each of these cases and many others. Why? Because the liberal elite know better than the ignorant masses. Rather than amend the U.S. Constitution in the legal process requiring approval of both Congress and the states, Humanists have found it much easier to control 5 of 9 Supreme Court Justice positions. In that way, they do not have to submit to “will of the people.”

Excessive regulation is another way to take governance away from the electorate. Congress is elected by the people. Bureaucrats are not. We have seen bureaucrats making law by making regulations so excessive that no one can know for sure what the law is. This puts the bureaucracy in the role of deciding who is guilty of violating the law and who is not. Congress loses power in this process and thus, so do the people.

When you consider the beliefs of Humanism, you see the slippery slope that descends from the first false step of Atheism. When Christians realize the other beliefs of Humanism are necessarily resting upon Satan’s foundation of Atheism, only then will we realize the logical connection of these beliefs. We must oppose them, one and all!