Because it was substantiated by the first amendment.

__________________
I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

What did the Constitution say about the relationship of religion to government before Jefferson wrote his letter to the Danbury Baptists? Did it just sit there with no meaning for over a decade?

Why are amendments necessary if everything is contained in the constitution? Why was an amendment process created? Your point is moot. It doesn't matter. As the author of the constitution, Jefferson is relevant to this discussion because his actions and writings provide background to his intentions in drafting the constitution and subsequent amendments.


Why do you believe it would have been appropriate for Baptists to pay a tax to support the congregationalist religion?

__________________
I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

p.s. Please learn to spell separation properly if you are going to discuss it.

__________________
I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Uh.. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Madison wrote the Constitution.

Madison and his principles were the primary architect of the Constituion, but it was a collaborative effort.

I have about 4000 pages of correspondence between founding fathers and others regarding the Constitution and its drafting. A four volumn set of primary documents.


Ixtellor

__________________
_______________________________________
George W. Bush "I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building"

Blasphemy is a victimless crime.

You Gotta Keep 'Em Separated!

Where did you flunk American history?

The common law rules of constriction inform us that

THE fairest and most rational method to interpret the will of the legislator, is by exploring his intentions at the time when the law was made, by signs the soft natural and probable. And these signs are either the words, the context, the subject matter, the effects and consequence, or the spirit and reason of the law.

Why do you put words in my mouth?

In the original unamended U. S. Constitution the government was granted no authority in matters of religion. As Madison said: "There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermeddle with religion. Its least interference with it would be a most flagrant usurpation."

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,..."

I think that's pretty clear and straight forward.

__________________

Nothing is clear and/or straight forward, once the lawyers get involved! NOTHING!

__________________
There are only two things wrong with this great nation of ours, democrats and republicans!

Not necessarily in that order.