Thomas Jefferson on the separation of church and state.
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the …
Thomas Jefferson on the separation of church and state.
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.“
“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
I took a chance and posted this Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Baptists on Facebook. About four years ago, the University of Virginia alumni magazine did a deep dive through its review of several current books about Thomas Jefferson. It was tough to learn truths about him that I hadn’t known. And it was great to learn about it at the same time. Most of the people, the intellectuals, who were the founding members of our country’s constitution and structure were not themselves very religious beyond what was socially expected. We cannot allow any judges, courts, or government officials to use religion as a cudgel. We must adhere to this basic tenet of our founding, freedoms, and democratic republic.
Thomas Jefferson on the separation of church and state.
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.“
https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html
“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/2260
I took a chance and posted this Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Baptists on Facebook. About four years ago, the University of Virginia alumni magazine did a deep dive through its review of several current books about Thomas Jefferson. It was tough to learn truths about him that I hadn’t known. And it was great to learn about it at the same time. Most of the people, the intellectuals, who were the founding members of our country’s constitution and structure were not themselves very religious beyond what was socially expected. We cannot allow any judges, courts, or government officials to use religion as a cudgel. We must adhere to this basic tenet of our founding, freedoms, and democratic republic.
“He has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.” perfectly states my opinion on vaccination exceptions and mandates. Thank you for this.