"Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing then he who believes what is wrong " Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia (1782)
and again here:
"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more then that of blindfolded fear. " Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr (1787)
Whether Judeo-Christian or not, none of us can deny that using the terms God promoting the Ten Commandments or other attempt to inject religion into civic life is anything else but an attempt to push faith on others. The intent and action of the founders is abundantly clear to anyone who chooses to review its formulation and language. Any attempt to state other wise is a blatant attempt to rewrite history as propaganda to suit their own views. Madison in particular seemed to speak directly to our present situation.
"What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not." - James Madison, "A Memorial and Remonstrance", 1785
The Rights of the Majority
The other argument made by the religious right is that the majority of the people in this country have the right to impose their beliefs on the minority regardless of historical separation of church and state. Even if you ignore the Bill of Rights, which protects the rights of the minority from the oppression of the majority, the assertion that a majority of Americans support the government adoption of Judeo-Christian values is questionable. Jefferson described the issue of coercion by the majority as a quest for a "tragic absurdity of uniformity " and saw differences in religious beliefs as a defense against coercion by the majority. Jefferson was clear on his view of religious coercion, "What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half of the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. "
These values still run deep in the American people when you examine them closely. Polls tend to produce certain results by their specificity. If you ask questions about general principles they tend to produce large consensus. The more specific you get in your questions about how application of those principles would affect individual lives the more disparity you get. For example the figure showing a majority of people want the Ten Commandments displayed is not reflective of polls of deeper personal beliefs. A majority of these same people believe that euthanasia and abortion are personal and family decisions and should not be determined by the state, while only a minority would convict those involved in these as acts of murder.
If we were to agree that this is a Christian nation and to embody those principles in government which Christian denomination would be the "right one ". Certainly there is no clear majority on that. The fundamentalists believe we should have no abortion, a death penalty and that the bible should trump science. The Catholics are on record against abortion, the death penalty but also any kind of artificial birth control (legally prohibited in Ireland until just a few years ago). What about civil unions between same sex couples, whose prayer will we say in the school, must certain religious beliefs be espoused to receive aid, serve in office or to get a job in a business? I believe that if you asked Americans these questions you would get vastly different answers then the majority opinions usually quoted.
The Equality of All Opinions
The reason for the very belief in the separation of church and state was the belief that their opinions were not equal and that clear line should be drawn between them and by implication the difference between reason and faith with reason obviously believed to be the superior.
On the subjugation of science to religion or the attempts to conform law to religion on evolution, stem cell research and the availability of birth control, Jefferson seemed to speak directly to us when he said the following:
"Whenever... preachers, instead of a lesson in religion, put [their congregation] off with a discourse on the Copernican system, on chemical affinities, on the construction of government, or the characters or conduct of those administering it, it is a breach of contract, depriving their audience of the kind of service for which they are salaried, and giving them, instead of it, what they did not want, or, if wanted, would rather seek from better sources in that particular art of science." Thomas Jefferson to P. H. Wendover, 1815. ME 14:281
The founders believed that common principles would stand on their own merit and would be adopted by people no matter what their religious belief and that government support was unnecessary. Referring to government endorsement of religion principles in "Notes on Virginia ", Jefferson stated "It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. "
Franklin may have expressed the most intelligent insight on the matter.
"I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father, expects or requires worship or praise from us, but that He is even infinitely above it."
Benjamin Franklin from "Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion", Nov. 20, 1728
Lastly and most interesting about Jefferson on this subject was that he spoke against government coercion of any belief. "Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men, governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons. And why subject it to coercion? To produce uniformity? But is uniformity of opinion desirable? No more than of face and stature." Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.XVII, 1782. ME 2:223
