•
• Jefferson’s letter written to the Danbury Baptists concerning the
First Amendment is used as law to keep church and state completely separated at
the expense of the church. Many forget that Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury
Baptists is in response to a letter they had sent to him. In their letter they congratulated his inauguration but also expressed
concern about the First Amendment: “Among the many million in America and
Europe who rejoice in your election to office; we embrace the first opportunity…to
express our great satisfaction in your appointment to the Chief Magistracy in the
United States…Our sentiment are uniformly on the side of religious
liberty—that religion is at all times and places a
matter between God and individuals—that the legitimate power of civil government
extends no further than to punish the man
who works ill to his neighbors; But sir, our Constitution of government is not
specific…therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor
part of the state) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights”[44] They feared that their religious rights were
government –given and could easily be regulated rather than God-given or inalienable.[45]
•