America's Godly Heritage
David Barton
Wallbuilders.com
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"The first ammendment" "Congress shall make no law respecting an
Articles of Confederation 1777 Article III The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever. (note time signitures, "xx:xx", are in reference to the video tape 5:05 John Adams The general principles on which the founders achieved independence.... were the general principles of Christianity.. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God." 9:43 John Jay (First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) "providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty - as well as the privilege and interest - of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." 10:10 Washingtons farewell address was once a seperate school text book for over a century. Students were once taught that it was the most significant speech ever delivered to the nation. It has been Absent from school text books for 40 years apparently because of its religious emphasis, for four of his statements were overtly religious. An interesting note is that in the last five years they have begun to reappear in college text books minus those four key phrases, warnings to the nation. 1. "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars." Russia, Italy and France were going through revolutions at about the same time as ours but they had dramatically different results ours has lasted over two hundered under the same form and founding document, France has had 7 completey different forms of government. Italy is on its 51st. Our founders applied biblical principles and their writing reveal this for 34% of their quotes come directly out of the bible. Of the 3154 direct quotes identified the bible was quoted 4x more than Montesque (8.3%), 4x more than Blackstone (7.9) and 12x more than Locke (2.9%). Charles Finney, in preperation for Law school, read Blackstones commentaries on the Law and while studying the many reference to the bible that Blackstone made, read the bible so much that he became converted and amswered his calling into the ministry. 15:46 A ruling by the U.S. supreme court in 1892 (Church of the Holy Trinity vs.United States) stated; "No purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or national, because this is a religious people..... This is a Christian nation". Only 87 of the sum of historical precedents were provided because the court felt no need to provide the 100's 17:07 A school that tried to eliminate the bible from its cariculum and teach morality without that reference has its case go to the Supreme Court that ruled in 1844 (Vidal vs. Girard), "Why may not the bible, and especially the new testement... be read and taught as a divine revelation in the [school] - it general precepts expounded... and its glorious principles of marality inculcated?...Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly as from the New Testement?" 17:49 In a court ruling over a profanity case (Peoples vs. Ruggles 1811) "Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government." This was later quoted by the Supreme Court. 19:15 U.S. congressional records June 7-Sept.25, 1789 Clearly show the intent of the first amendment: Not to have one denomination running the nation. Runkel vs. Winemiller (1799) "By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of christians are placed on the same equal footing." 20:35 Letter from Jefferson to Benjamin Rush September 23, 1800 President Jefferson committed himself to not allow any denomication to achieve the "establishment of a particular form of Christianity." 20:55 Danbury Baptists to Jefferson Nov.7, 1801 They were concerned that 'free
exercise of religion" appeared
in the First Amendment.
Jefferson reply Jan. 1, 1802 " The first Amendment has erected a wall of seperation between church and state." The clear understanding of the first Amendment for a century and a half: it prohibited establishing a single national denomination. House Judiciary Committee Report March 27, 1854 "Had the people [the founding fathers], during the revolution, a suspicioun of any attempt to war against christianity, that revolution would have been strangled in its cradle... At the time of the adoption of the constitution and its amendments, the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged, but not any one sect [denomination]." The report continued: " In this age, there is no substitute for Christianity.. That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their decendents." (Two months later) " The great vital and conservative element in our system [the thing that holds our system together] is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." 1947 case 1962 &63 rulings 0 presedents used 33:38 Abington vs. Schempp (1962) The court reported that only only 3% of the nation professed no religion or not belief in God. The prayer case was regarded as unconstitutional even though 97% of the country had religious convictions. 31:10 Stone vs. Graham (1980) "If the posted copies of the Ten Commandments are to have any effect at all, it will be to induce the school childern to read, meditate upon, perhaps to venerate and obey , the Commandments ...... [which] is not a permissable..... objective. 32:19 James Wilson "Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine... Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters.Indeed, these two sciences run into each other. The Divine law... forms and essential part of both." 35: George Washingtons farewell address warns of absence of morality 42:15 Excerpt from Washington's farewell address: "Let is simply be asked, 'Where is the security for life, for reputation and for
property, 43:05 Thomas Jefferson connects biblical principles to the ability of governmence. "The precepts of philosophy laid hold of actions only... [but Jesus] pushed his scrutinies into the heart if man, erected his tribunal in the region of his thoughts, and he purified the waters at the fountainhead." 43:50 John Adams "We have no government armed with power capable of contending "Our constitution was made only for a moral and a religious people. 46:00 Deleware's constitution's statement of recognitions for public office. Delaware Constitution "Every person appointed to public office shall say 'I do profess 46:50 Pennsylvania and Vermont Constitutions had similar provisions as Deleware. 47:58 national sins 50:30 franklins statment on Gods aid Charles Finneys statement about the responsibility of Christians in reference to government. Article IV The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different States in this Union, the free inhabitants of each of these States, paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several States; Northwest ordinence Sec. 14. It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid, That the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact between the original States and the people and States in the said territory and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to wit: Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them. |