by Brian Burns

Created on: July 14, 2008   Last Updated: June 07, 2010

Mend The Wall

For many years now Evangelicals in America have been positioning themselves inside of Washington D.C., and have twisted the definition of the First Amendment to our Constitution to mean something that it never has. The First Amendment in our Bill of Rights states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" Evangelicals take this to mean they have the right to erect religious icons in our government buildings and public spaces, and completely miss the mark when they claim our nation is a "Christian nation". The fact behind their matter is faith-based, and it has grown to where the wall of separation between church and state', the true essence of the establishment clause to the First Amendment, is being torn down before our eyes by those who have either sworn, or are preparing themselves to swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States.

The wall of separation' between church and secular affairs was first introduced to us by a Christian preacher in colonial Massachusetts named Roger Williams. As a Separatist from the Church of England, Williams was steadfast in his faith, but the Puritanical version he practiced was at odds with England's state-sanctioned Anglican religion, and so he set sail for Boston. After turning down the offer to replace a minister in an "unseparated" church, he accepted one offered by his fellow Puritans in Salem. Salem, however, was under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the Boston authorities stopped Williams from settling there. Instead, he moved on to Plymouth Colony, where he was more than welcomed by the citizens to lead the teachings in their church, as they too were Puritans who held Separatist views akin to those of Williams. Though still under the rule of England, the colonists considered their New World as one that was removed from their native lands, and many wanted it to be regarded as an independent state. They wanted to enact their own laws, and wanted to be able to worship without being scrutinized by the Church of England. In general, they were seeking religious freedom, and Williams preached their sentiments loudly.

Roger Williams was enthusiastic when he saw that the American colonies were booming with religious variations from across Europe. He saw it as somewhat of a refuge for Separatists' around the world, and was happy to find that it wasn't only his people seeking freedom from religious persecution.

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