Here we go again. 
The Constitution says FREEDOM "OF" RELIGION, not freedom from religion.
Learn what the prepositions mean. If everyone will remember that our
President tried to explain the meaning of IS. Law has gotten to the point of
being an English lesson. Our forefathers designed our statutes to codify the
separation of religion and to not have a State religion, but allow the
worship of the Christian doctrine, as represented, in the 1700's as the
concept worth fighting our cousins the English. Maybe if we pay attention to
the teaching of the values and the beliefs our country was built upon the
NEED for private schooling would not need to be in such great demand. 
This also goes for West Virginia not being in existence before 1863. 
Thanks 
John Philip Adams

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul Finkelman
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 3:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Religious freedom?

not all Republicans, just those who want to use tax dollars to for the
support of religious schools or have prayers in public schools; or
posting religious statements on public property.  these are well known
positions of the present republican party; these are positions that
jefferson wuld surely oppose.  Jefferson considered that religious
freedom required a wall of separation between church and state; the
present Republican party opposes such a wall.

John Maass wrote:

>I find it interesting that the only reaction so far to Mr. Finkleman's
initial statements about Jefferson and Senator Allen's remarks are about
TJ's "problem" with slavery.  Mr. Finkleman also made a very sweeping and
preposterous statement that conservatives/Republicans are against religious
freedom in the US today.
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>
>John R. Maass
>Dept. of History
>The Ohio State University
>230 West 17th Ave
>106 Dulles Hall
>Columbus, OH  43210-1367
>http://history.osu.edu/people/person.cfm?ID=1490
>
>
>To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
>at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
>

--
Paul Finkelman
Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law
3120 East 4th Place
Tulsa, OK   74104-3189

918-631-3706 (office)
918-631-2194 (fax)

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