On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 21:46:05 -0400, JDG <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
A pretty selective sampling there, Doug.
It's enough to show that the constitution provided a "wall of separation" in the minds at least some of the more prominent founders.
It also neglects the fact, that your reading of the Constitution would make the Declaration of Independence Unconstitutional.
We've discussed this before. "Creator" is ambiguous enough to be considered non-religious, IMO.
It also neglects the fact that the Founders who participated in the very
first Congress chose as their first discretionary act the appointment of a chaplain. I find it ironic that you consider Congress' first
discretionary act to be unconstitutional - and claim that these self-same
founders agree with you on this point.
In fact, there was heated opposition to the appointment of the Chaplain, led, I believe, by Mr. Madison, sometimes known as the father of the constitution. That smaller minds prevailed at the time is not an ironclad indication that they were consistent with the intent of the constitution or the first amendment.
-- Doug
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