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A Bill: "Reverse
Everson"
A Bill Clarifying the Historical Perspective on the Founder’s True Intent Regarding the Separation of
Church and State and Reversing those Court Decisions Restricting
the States' Right to Support & Allow Christian
Activity
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Whereas the
Founding Fathers and Framers of the Constitution engaged
in supporting overtly Christian activities as Acts of Congress,
and expressed clear words in their writings regarding their desire for these United State to promote
and intimately mingle the practice and teachings of Christianity in
the educational, governmental, business, and private sectors of
society;
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Whereas the Founding
Fathers and Framers of the Constitution chose to omit any explicit
reference to their intent for the society to be a Christian Nation, but
instead chose to allow each person to choose their particular
relationship to God, just as God has allowed complete Freedom of choice
in religion;
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Nevertheless, understand that the Framers
intended this to be a Christian nation by the free will choice
of its people. They intended that all the tools and resources
of Federal and State government were to be mobilized in
support of the passing their Christian values, beliefs,
and culture from generation to generation. They intended that the
laws of the government were to reflect the character and essence of
non-denominational Biblical Christianity. They chose
to establish no religion, rather than risk the virtually inevitable
doctrinal tyranny that would accompany the explicitly naming of an
official State religion, even as general as "Christianity".
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Be it understood that the
Framers intended that the First Amendment stating that "Congress shall
make no law establishing a religion" was meant to restrict the US
Congress from establishing a National Religion in its most literal
sense. At the time, the debate was largely about how to harmonize
the various denominations. Thus, the phrase, "no law establishing
a religion" was most properly contextualized to refer to a specific
Christian Denomination. The Founders wished to insure that
there was no National religion/Christian denomination and
its associated statement of faith established by the US
Congress. Such tests of orthodoxy had been clearly shown to
be the tools of theocratic tyrants and Pharisees. It was
intended that the States could pass laws to
support religious activities of their choosing. Likewise,
Congress can pass bills supporting Christian efforts, such as printing
Bibles and sending them to
Afghanistan to help the missionaries spread the gospel. Such acts
were engaged by the writers of the First Amendment, giving clear
indication of their intent to avoid establishing an official
governmental Christian Doctrine, but still desiring to promote general,
non-denominational, whole-Word Christianity both domestically and
abroad.
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Note: that the
1947 Everson v. Board of Education ruling, used the
phrase about erecting a high and impenetrable "wall of Separation"
between church and state. This non-Constitutional cliche
(written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association in
1802) was originally used to convey assurances that government
would never interfere with the authority of the Church in matters of
worship. The Everson decision declared that a County's decision to
reimburse bus fare for children traveling to a Catholic school was
equivalent to Government authorizing a religion. This was a
historically inaccurate judgment. The Founders even
allowed the States to establish a State religion. There
was certainly no prohibition against the States supporting an
individual denomination in their worthy efforts to educate their
children in the precepts of Christianity.
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The drum-like repetition
of the mantra "separation of Church and State" has created
a reflexive reaction in the Court against any
God-related/religion-related activity supported by government. The
concept of an absolute separation of any Christian religious activity in
government, and government supported institutions is historically
wrong. The acts and words of those men who wrote the Constitution
is the most revealing view into the intent of the Framers as
to the "Constitutionality" of an act of the States
or Congress.
- Thus, the States may
authorize, support, fund, or promote the practice of any Christian
religion. The Founders desired that Christianity be promoted in
preference to all other religions. A State denomination may be
established by the State legislature, by referendum, or by
initiative. Prayer, Bible reading, compensation for busing,
proselytizing & witnessing, public displays of worship on
governmental property, displays of religious icons, and
ceremonies, and all other religious activities shall be allowed at
the discretion of the States. There is no requirement for equal
compensation or consideration for other non-Christian
religions. The Founders intended this to be a Christian
nation. Other religions are welcome to participate in
our society, but they have no right to dominate or be considered as
equal in their influence in the legislation of public
policy.
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