Most COS followers are well aware of the misinterpretation of Thomas Jefferson’s statement about the “wall of separation between Church and State.” Jefferson was not saying that all religious thought and displays must be removed from public life. As President in 1802, Jefferson reaffirmed that the American government would “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
In writing to the Danbury Baptist Association, concerned about constraints applied by the Connecticut state government, Jefferson clarified that legislative powers would never force citizens to follow a national religion. Pilgrims fleeing to the New World rejected that exact scenario in England. It was very unlikely to be replicated once they arrived across the pond.
One fundamental principle founding these United States is freedom to follow one’s individual beliefs. Unfortunately, that might include having no belief in any absolute truth or moral standard of what is right or wrong, but that certainly was not the 18th Century intent.
Our founding fathers aspired to practice some version of religious morality as evidenced by George Mason who wrote in the Virginia Declaration of Rights that “No free government, nor the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.”
John Adams observed in 1798, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington agreed, saying, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
Today, when drag queens are acceptable in public libraries but biblical wisdom is not, we must conclude that liberty requires morality. We have removed so many connections to a divine creator and assigned so much authority to government experts (AKA false prophets), that it is little wonder our nation is weakening.
COS is one organization that will not deny citizens the opportunity to recognize a higher power. Here it’s OK to wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah, to celebrate the birth of Christ, and to acknowledge that Jesus did make a difference on earth. He gave us a road map, a few simple rules, and clarity about whose word to believe and follow.
We wish you all the blessings that come with Christ’s teachings and hope that reflecting on fundamental principles will bring you a peace-filled New Year.
Becoming active in COS will bring action to your beliefs. Join us.
