DID THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION ESTABLISH THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?

This amendment was required by the states in order to prevent the Federal government from establishing a national denominational church, such as existed in England.

It was designed to protect state-established churches or state-preferred Christian denominations, since at the time of the First Amendment in 1791, over one-third of the thirteen colonies had established churches.

The word "congress" has from the beginning been interpreted to mean "the Federal government." The intent of the amendment was to provide an atmoshpere in which the Judeo-Christian religion could flourish. It protected the Biblical legal base of our country, while at the same time it avoided a national church.

The phrase "wall of separation" is not found in the Constitution, nor is the term "church and state." Thomas Jefferson, who had nothing to do with the writing of the Constitution, used the phrase "wall of separation between church and state" in a letter written in 1802.

In his 1805 inaugural address, Jefferson clarified that this statement referred to the separation between the church and the Federal government.

When man rejects God's commands in favor of human reasoning, the logical conclusions are exactly the opposite of truth and righteousness. Good becomes evil and evil becomes good. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight." (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Ever since Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, rebellious mankind has attempted to build a world utopia of his own.

1. Jim Jones rejected the Bible. He threw the Bible to the floor, stating, "Too many people are looking at this instead of looking at me."

2. He rejected God. He referred to himself as God.

3. He rejected God's moral standards. He promoted immortality and perversion.

4. He demanded shared possessions.

5. He "fostered manly attitudes about death." He and his followers carried out the ultimate act of Humanism - suicide.

Until Christ returns to set up His Kingdom, Satan will continue to deceive people and nations who reject God's truth.

(Information taken from the Institute In Basic Life Principles book on "How To Understand Humanism" page 9. To retrieve more information visit their web page!)

Home