SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE  

I bet you think you know about the origins of the first amendment, you know, the one that tells us that government and religion must not be inter-twined. Well, you are probably wrong! You learned a lot of c r a p in school and the idea seems to permeate our environment. To whit, it says that the Puritans came here from England because of oppressive religious laws and wanted freedom to worship as they pleased.

Well, that isn't exactly it; it isn't even close. The Puritans were a stiff necked people who were disgusted with the English religious services and finally, having had a belly full of what they deemed religious disaster packed up and left for the good old USA to be. Naturally, because they knew the Truth, they oppressed other beliefs and kicked out those who disagreed. Roger Williams, was one. He went on to challenge the notion that government had anything to say about religion and finally set up Rhode Island as a haven for all.

But, not unlike beliefs everywhere, the colonies were set up for the benefit of an official religion, the Anglican church. They were British subjects and simply followed British law. Alas for them, there is always a fly in the ointment of contentment. The colonies, so far from Britain could not maintain the strict control to guarantee that all would be Anglican. Wandering Baptist preachers, Quakers (very different from the current version) and others told their stories and people often liked what they heard. The official religion was for the elites, the wanderers spoke to the common person.

Of course, and how could it be otherwise, the Anglicans saw their religious monopoly threatened and criminalized the errant preachers, beating them, jailing them and every now and then killing them. Surely, this was one of the precursors to revolution; the people rioted and had mini rebellions setting the stage for separation from England.

With military success, and with one failure, the constitution came into being including with the first amendment. Our founding fathers knew about the disasters of official religion and guess who led the charge. The Baptists. If the framers needed any energy, it was provided by the Baptists. Jefferson enshrined the result in writing about the “wall ofseparation between church and state.” QED, well, not exactly. The religionists started pecking away as they do today and we find the assault on separation quite alive and active.

I suppose you all know about the prohibition of the The Commandments on public ground. Well, duh, it's because it gives the appearance that government has a stake in fostering religion, particularly of Judeo-Christian ideals. (Never mind that Judaism and Christianity each has its own version; when “W” was asked which should be displayed, he said, “the regular one.” How's that for theological sensitivity!) Religionists keep putting them up and the ffrf and the ACLU keep knocking them down.

School vouchers are designed to help religionists send their children to parochial schools and though they also are knocked down new versions appear. Now, in some states, businesses can donate money in support of vouchers and deduct their expenses.

A persistent damned annoyance is that preachers have taken to disregarding the law against electioneering. Religious institutions must not become involved in elections lest they lose their tax-exempt status. That would be a mighty blow except that the federal government, for the past three years has ignored violations. Yes, Obama's Department of Revenue is blind to infractions; and the ffrf is now suing them. Go gettum, you guys.

About government what you may think of religion

Whether in it you want lots or a smidgeon

With moaning and sighs

With salt tears in your eyes

Against the first you are in inevitable collision.