The Jeffersonian cyclopedia; a comprehensive collection of the views of Thomas Jefferson classified and arranged in alphabetical order under nine thousand titles relating to government, politics, law, education, political economy, finance, science, art, literature, religious freedom, morals, etc.; |
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1269. CHURCH AND STATE, Wall of separation.— |
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 | The Jeffersonian cyclopedia; |  |
1269. CHURCH AND STATE, Wall of separation.—
Believing that religion is a
matter which lies solely between man and his
God, that he owes account to none other for
his faith or his worship, that the legislative
powers of government reach actions only, and
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 and State. [77]
—
R. to A. Danbury Baptists. Washington ed. viii, 113.
(1802)
Before sending this reply to the Danbury Baptists,
Jefferson enclosed a copy of it to Levi Lincoln,
his Attorney General, with a note (Ford ed., viii.
129) in which he said: “The Baptist address admits
of a condemnation of the alliance between Church
and State, under the authority of the Constitution.
It furnishes an occasion, too, which I have long
wished to find, of saying why I do not proclaim fastings
and thanksgivings, as my predecessors did. *
* * I know it will give great offence to the New
England clergy; but the advocate of religious freedom
is to expect neither peace nor forgiveness from
them. Will you be so good as to examine the answer,
and suggest any alterations which might prevent an
ill effect, or promote a good one among the people?
You understand the temper of those in the North,
and can weaken it, therefore, to their stomachs; it is
at present seasoned to the Southern taste only.”—
Editor.
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