The REAL History of the 'Separation of Church and State' and Thomas Jefferson

One of the most pervasive phrases in the sociopolitical lexicon is "the separation of church and state," a phrase many mistakenly believe is present in the U.S. Constitution. The term, typically used to claim there can be no intermingling of faith and government, has a fascinating history, according to Howard Goldthwaite, senior creative director at First Liberty Institute. Goldthwaite recently wrote, directed, and produced a short animated video titled "No Better Letter," an effort to explain where "the separation of church and state" term originated, and why some misunderstand not only the history, but also its application to constitutional law. "The phrase is from a letter it's not in the Constitution like everybody seemed to assume," he said. "It's from a letter written on January 1st of 1802 by Thomas Jefferson [to] a group from Danbury, Connecticut." That group had written Jefferson expressing concern "they were going to be ... told what to teach, what to preach," Goldthwaite said. Jefferson, then the third president of the United States, told them in his reply they had nothing to worry about and that the government didn't have the power to tell them what to do in their house of worship. Watch for the full explanation.
Download the free CBN News App: cbnnews.com/app
SUBSCRIBE to the CBN News Channel for more:
kzbin.info?s...
SUBSCRIBE to the QuickStart Newsletter by visiting quickstart.news
SUBSCRIBE to the Quickstart Podcast. New episodes every morning at 7am: cbn.com/cbnnews/quickstart
What's coming up next? Have a look at our program guide: kzbin.info?q=ht...
CBN features 24-hour TV news from a Christian perspective. The CBN News Channel provides independent news programming to an underserved audience to enlighten, entertain and inspire Christians around the world. Comments below do not necessarily reflect the views of CBN.
Share this live feed with your friends and family:
/ cbnnewsonline
Like us on Facebook: / cbnnews
Like us on Twitter: / cbnnews
Follow us on Instagram: / cbnnews
Contact News Editors: kzbin.info?q=ht...
Questions about other CBN programs: kzbin.info?q=ht...
Questions about supporting CBN?
www1.cbn.com/cbn-partners (and) kzbin.info?q=ht...
Questions about Helping the Home Front? Call: 800-700-7000
kzbin.info?q=ht...
#breakingnews #politicalnews #christiannews #christian #christianity #church #breakingnews #cbnnews

[@Annoyed-Dragon]

Those that came to America came to practice a religion that was NOT run by its government. England's established church, is The Church of England. There are other religions but the accepted Religion at the time was the church of England established by Henry the 8th. When America was Established the Founders wanted to avoid a Nationalized "Religion" because they understood the OPPRESSION of an Established National Church. It removes a person's freedom of Choice to worship freely. Whatever Thomas Jefferson said OUTSIDE of the LAW that is our Constitution, was his OWN opinion. Hence the establishment of article 6 of the first amendment. You can twist it however you want but the point is that EACH and EVERY American should never be FORCED to practice ANY religion they do NOT SUBSCRIBE too. THAT IS FREEDOM! If the founders meant to put a national religion in the Constitution. They would have done so, clearly and CONCISELY. I wish these conversations would stop and you would accept your freedom to practice religion and let those that do not subscribe to your particular brand of religion do the same. Religious people are free to be a part of government, They are not free to press their personal ideologies or religious beliefs onto the people of America as a whole.

[@Ddub1083]

not actually true... up until 1776 (and in some instances after) every territory in North America except for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Deleware had established official state churches. And in most of those cases, the established church was the church of england. So your theory doesnt actually align with ya know.... facts and history.

[@Annoyed-Dragon]

@@Ddub1083So obviously before 1776 we were an English colony, So it would make sense that states would establish a church of England here.. I'm talking about after the war for Independence and why there is a separation of church and state clause within the Constitution.

[@Ddub1083]

@@Annoyed-Dragon right but the point is that it counters your suggestion that people who came to america came to practice a religion that was not run by its government... that didnt occur until over 250 odd years after the first settlers came to america. granted the founders wanted to avoid a nationalized religion as well... but that ignores the fact that numerous states retained their state established religions well into the 1840s. The constitution technically does not prohibit state established religions by the states, it only prohibits congress (ie federal) from establishing such. I dont disagree with your opinion, separation of church and state is paramount, despite the speaker's abhorrent misrepresentations of Jefferson's letter. However, historically, states did have established religions for decades even after the the revolution. Indeed it was exactly these things that Thomas Jefferson was writing in opposition to in 1802. (edit: of course, supreme court caselaw has applied this portion of the 1st amendment to the states... but notably that did not occur until many years later.)

[@Annoyed-Dragon]

@@Ddub1083 yep, the whole freedom of choice to practice whatever religion.

[@Annoyed-Dragon]

@@Ddub1083 okay you win. Lol You're right, I'm wrong

[@Eagle00pr]

Separation of State and Church. That’s a better way to phrase it.

[@KopperNeoman]

I think we've learned from experience that it's also impossible. All Jefferson accomplished was wrenching the Church out of governance. Tradition (in this case, British tradition) is the answer to questions you forgot existed.

[@Synodalian]

​@@KopperNeoman Everybody already knows that cliché quote by Winston Churchill about how democracy is the worst system except for all the other ones. The Separation of Church and State continues to be a political struggle today because of disputes over the justification of authority, yet it is also the _outcome_ of recognizing the absolute importance of _public reason,_ which is literally the only expression of civil society that ties diverse populations from backgrounds from all over the world together. Do you want to know what came _just before_ that recognition? The largest and longest religious war in European history, fought between Catholics and Protestants...

[@Ddub1083]

@@Synodalian "Strange women, lying in ponds, distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!"

[@rileyhogan5196]

The "It's not in the constitution, it was a letter" approach is so disgustingly and intellectually dishonest. No, the words "Separation of church and state" are not in the constitution, but it's the layman's for "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" and these words ARE in the constitution. (It also references where article VI of the constitution prohibits religious tests for qualifications to office.)

[@hugoespinal6885]

The first amendment to the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The two parts, known as the "establishment clause" and the "free exercise clause" respectively, form the textual basis for the Supreme Court's interpretations ,,,An August 15, 1789, entry in Madison's papers indicates he intended for the establishment clause to prevent the government imposition of religious beliefs on individuals. The entry says: "Mr. Madison said he apprehended the meaning of the words to be, that Congress should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any manner contrary to their conscience.

[@onlywenilaugh6589]

Big difference in government forcing and establishing a religion and people in the government basing their decisions and policies on their religion. Like don't murder is from religion eh.

[@D_waters]

the separation of church and state is in the constitution article VI “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” and the establishment clause to the 1st Amendment to the constitution "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..." i like how they say thats not what the founding fathers wanted because the danbury baptist letter was written by thomas jefferson

[@theYoungPilots]

Pick one, church or state. You can't hold both in your heart. Jesus taught us "“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

[@cmebans35]

Good information

[@jackiesicilian5720]

Where's the link to this man's video about it??

[@user-hp3em2yb7n]

“comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[@TheFitra]

What is your core, most fundamental doctrin in your belief ?

[@barjones4290]

Where is the link

[@b991228]

Your confused. The separation of church & state goes both ways. Both church & state are to keep out of each other’s business.

[@realmichaud]

as it should be...the Republicans are going to be in trouble if they go down this route. Have you seen Agenda2025? Plenty of junk in there by the Heritage Foundation. Trump seems to be on that bandwagon. I'm done with him because of it too.

[@macymoore6263]

The 1st Amendment quite literally says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." To answer your question, "why do people cling so strongly to that language?": because we don't want to be forced to adhere to any specific belief/religion....is that not obvious??

[@TheLeonhamm]

Jefferson was, it seems, simply applying the results of the Investiture Controversy and the papal understanding of the .. authoritative separation of the Two Cities - of God and of Man, and the responsibilities that these official and authoritative powers may expect to bear (together and apart). Gallicanism, Anglicanism, Calvinism, and Josephism had variously refused to accept this State - Church separate-yet-shared spheres notion. Napoleon and Pius VII were in the process of making an accord .. concordat, setting out the limits and extents to which the State and the Church could work together and where they may not go; such a concord, of course, would not be applicable to a State that did not recognise the Church of Rome .. or the authority of the Church of England (or Wittenburg or Geneva or My Own Little Church of Sasquatch Four Square Revelation, Susquehanna, backwoods USA). The Jeffersonian, Masonic, limitation on Roman interference in local Church - State interactions gave an unforeseen tremendous boost to the actual authority of the popes at Rome, as most States simply handed over their jealously guarded controls on what Rome could and could not do .. officially. ;o)

[@johnhavens8199]

This is a horrible distortion of american history.

[@preshisify1]

😷☕

[@kimmanning2913]

The frick they can.