Separation of Church and State : Writings on a Fundamental Freedom by America's Founders

by Church, Forrest

• ISBN13: 9780807077221
• ISBN10: 0807077224
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-08-09
• Publisher: Beacon Press

Summary

A primer of essential writings about one of the cornerstones of our democracy Certain basic issues will always be debated in our country, even without a presidential election at stake. One of the most important of these is the separation of church and state. On this issue, Americans constantly interpret and reinterpret the intentions of America's founders. Now, they will have a collection of the most eloquent writings of the founders to help them understand the original reasoning behind this separation. Forrest Church, well-known writer and religious leader, son of former senator Frank Church, has used his considerable knowledge about this subject to bring together these writings for modern readers. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, George Washington, Patrick Henrythese are just some of the leaders who wrote movingly about the need to separate religion and government. This concise primer will get past the rhetoric that surrounds the current debate and deliver instead specific writings by the original authors of the Constitution. Edited and introduced by Church, this volume will inform readers about the founders' original vision and will stand as a timely reminder of how important this fundamental separation is to our way of life.

Author Biography

Forrest Church served almost three decades as senior minister and is now Minister of Public Theology of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New York City. He was educated at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in early church history. He has written or edited twenty-three books, including Life Lines; Lifecraft; Bringing God Home; The American Creed; Freedom from Fear; and Love & Death.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. VII
In Defense of Religious Liberty	p. 1
The Rights of the Colonists	p. 7
Baptist Appeals for Religious Liberty	p. 16
Colonial Declarations of Rights: Virginia
Colonial Declarations of Rights: Massachusetts	p. 26
Memorial of the Hanover Presbytery	p. 36
Notes on the State of Virginia	p. 45
Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments	p. 56
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom	p. 72
The Landholder, No. 7	p. 78
The Rights of Conscience	p. 87
Letters on Religious Laws	p. 104
Farewell Address (Selections)	p. 112
Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11	p. 121
A Wall of Separation	p. 124
Epilogue: A Detached Memorandum	p. 131
Of Liberty of Conscience and Civil Establishment of Religion	p. 145
Sources	p. 158
Acknowledgments	p. 160
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