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Originally Posted by wolf
According to that somewhat dry, but interesting book I just finished reading, "The American Leadership Tradition," Jefferson was very pro-liberty, but very anti-church/christianity, which is where the "wall of separation" notion comes from.
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A quote of Jefferson from HM's link: "I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect and esteem."
These do not sound like the words of someone on an anti-Christian crusade. Jefferson sounds very generous and ecumenical in his response, IMO. It was always my understanding that the seperation of church and state came from the high percentage of colonists who came to America to escape persecution for their religous beliefs in Europe.
On the question of a town of 3,000 Christians all desiring a nativity scene on the courthouse lawn: this would be the government respecting a religion - Christianity. Suppose that the very next year a Jew or a Pagan or a Buddhist happened to move into this community and there on the courthouse lawn was this obvious government endorsement of Chritianity. Wouldn't the Jew, Pagan, etc. feel that in order to get along with the town court, police, county commissioners he'd better make a secret of his religous belief or even convert whether he wanted to or not? And why wouldn't these 3,000 Christians be content with a nicely done nativity scene on the front lawn of their local church? Surely, this would be both more appropriate and more sacred?
And, Bruce: I am very sorry to hear about your friend. You have my deep sympathy.