Queston

Published On: January 19, 2015|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|2 Comments on Queston|

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Please tell me exactly where in our Constitution it says “separation of church and state”? Last I check that was taken from the Communist Manifesto…so i would ask you, is your organization for the USA (which i might add was built upon Christian values…like it or leave it you cant change that)…or is your organization secretly building communism here in the states just like the ACLU…its founder roger baldwin a devout communist (and not shy about telling about it)…i am a vet and what you stand for is deplorable and against everything this country was founded for and upon.

my question however still stands…please show me exactly where in the Constitution of the United States it talks about separation of church and state?
(name withheld)

Hi (name withheld).There are two things which indicate a separation of Church and State in the US Constitution.
First the Constitution says:

The No Religious Test Clause of the United States Constitution is found in Article VI, paragraph 3, and states that:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under
the United States.
Secondly There are no other mentions of God, Jesus or any other religious references in the US Constitution. The US Constitution is strictly non-religious and contains no references to being built on Christian Values.US Citizens may practice religions as citizens but no religious activities affecting governing are allowed in government.
Sincerely,

Rick Baker
Capt. USAF (Ret)
MRFF Volunteer

Hi (name withheld),
You’ll find separation of church and state in the Constitution right after it says God and Christian Values.

You’ve read the Communist Manifesto? Good for you. Learn anything?

Your comment about the ACLU says a lot about your personal political point of view, just as does your fascination with communism. In case you missed it in the paper, the Soviet Union is no more and the Chinese are trading with the U.S. People “secretly building communism here in the states,” whatever that means, only happens on a television show.

So you’re a vet. So are many of us. So what? What we at the MRFF stand for is protecting everything “this country was founded for and upon.” If you’d like to have me elaborate on that a bit I’ll be happy to explain what we’re doing and how it does so much more for the safety and security of our country than the nonsense you are spewing here.

And my answer still stands. Look in the Constitution for God and Christian Values. Once you find them you’ll find the separation of church and state. I trust you understand my point.

Actually, if you’re seriously looking for mention of the separation of church and state you can find it in the law, or you can find it in the writings of Thomas Jefferson, who did his writing just a bit before Karl Marx did his. You remember the name?

Best,

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

 

Dear (name withheld),
Thanks for writing and asking your question.  Mikey Weinstein has read your note and asked me to provide an answer.  I’m a Christian and AF veteran in addition to being an MRFF supporter.
With respect, the question you’ve posed is based on a common misconception that many people hold, particularly religious people.  Specifically, the erroneous argument that if the words “separation of church and state” are not stated verbatim in the Constitution, that it’s somehow not a valid concept.  The reality is that the prescient authors of our Constitution did envision the need to keep the state out of the affairs of individual Americans. For that reason they included, in the Bill of Rights, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
The Establishment Clause does several important things, the most well known of which is to prevent the government from establishing an official religion. But it does more than that — it also prohibits government actions that favor one religion over another, or that favor religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion.  As a result, actions like the use of a recruiting poster that features God is simply unconstitutional. It would be no different if the poster had said, “For Allah and country”, or “For Vishnu and country” —  and MRFF would have opposed the unconstitutionality of the poster in those cases, as well.
So you ask if MRFF is “for the USA”?  Absolutely. Everyone who is involved with MRFF is a sincere patriot — it is the one thing that we have most in common with one another.
As to your assertion that the USA was “built upon Christian values”, I’d ask you to consider, one fellow vet to another, what that statement means for non-Christian military members? The USA is an incredibly diverse, multicultural, pluralistic society and our military reflects that diversity. Even though the majority of Americans are Christians, that does not give Christianity an official place in our government and military. Every military member of every belief (including non-belief) is entitled to the same Constitutional rights with regard to religious freedom. Those Constitutional protections are not subject to a majority vote or a popularity contest.
Expecting an Army recruiting office to fulfill its obligation to remain neutral with regard to religion, as required by both the Constitution and regulation, does not in any way infringe on anyone’s individual rights. Everyone who desires to enlist for any reason, including a religious motivation, is free to do so.
The most important thing to understand, in my opinion as both a Christian and a veteran, is that prominence or preferential treatment is not a violation of anyone’s rights. And personally, I think it’s great that Christians wish to serve in our military. I think it’s equally great that honorable non-Christians and non-believers also want to serve. As a nation, we must respect the service, and the rights, of every one of those men and women.
Peace,
Mike Challman
Christian, AF veteran, MRFF supporter

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2 Comments

  1. Darrell Clauson January 19, 2015 at 11:31 pm

    That’s a lame answer. So in other words, there is no reference to separation of church and state in the Constitution.

  2. Connie January 21, 2015 at 7:23 pm

    Darrell – LOL Your comment proves you have not explored American History on your ownsome. The concept of church and state is in the Bill of Rights, not the main body of the Constitution. I just got the joke myself – had to google the differences as I’ve been saying it’s in the wrong place for years. Ooops!

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