N Carolina wants a State Religion

That sounds like the first shot fired across the bow in a secessionist movement. Wow!

You know there is the basis for a "new confederacy" formed up already, don't you? It's called the Southern National Congress. North Carolina is a member, along with 13 other states including Missouri, Maryland and Texas. It encompasses the entire Southeast(ern Conference, too, as it happens :laugh: ). Interesting.

 

I agree that the 1st Amendment as it addresses the establishment of religion applies only to the US Congress but I don't want any state establishing a state religion.

 

Baptists, historically, have always opposed the establishment of a state religion, whether regional or national. Part of the historic belief in religious liberty is that no primary belief is forced upon others.

It might seem nice for a while, but it always damages in the long run.

 

I disagree, the amendment was aimed at both the Federal government and state governments. The establishment clause comes from the push by the Virginia Baptists who had suffered greatly under the established Virginia State Church ... the Church of England. They wanted it impossible for a state church to ever be established by anyone.

 

Jefferson didn't think so. His "wall of separation" letter that is so widely and incorrectly used to justify the erroneous "separation of church and state" arguments was directed to the Connecticut Baptist Association, telling them the federal government could not intervene in their dispute with the state of Connecticut over the state church there. The Baptists were protesting the state's insistence that the Baptist churches conform to the Connecticut church's doctrines, formulae, and procedures. Jefferson replied that the federal government could not intervene in a state matter:

The problem is, the founders only wrote that Congress could "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It said nothing about the states, nor does it say anything about preventing religion from being vocalized or promoted publicly. Several court decisions since 1947 have defied that fact and illegally extended the First to be used against faith, religion, and their practices.

It is amusing to note that Jefferson's reference to "Separation of Church & State" is a reference to the feds inability to intervene in a state matter. It has nothing to do whatsoever with faith or religion having an active role in American government.