<html>
Greetings:<br><br>
Just for the historical record, I draw your attention to the following:
<ul>
<li>Ben Franklin suggested that the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia be opened with prayer. The assembled delegates voted
the old boy down;
<li>Jefferson and Jackson refused to make a presidential declaration of a
national day of prayer and thanksgiving;
<li>James Madison believed that churches should pay taxes and that there
should be no congressional chaplains.
</ul>There is lots of support among the founders for reading the
establishment clause as a "wall" (Madison used the word
"line") between church and state. The brutal history of
European religious wars and executions was too fresh in their
minds.<br><br>
Thanks, Keely, for your personal testimony about private prayer and
Jesus' rejection of public prayer. <br><br>
Finally, one challenge for Roger Falen: show me a Supreme Court decision
that used only the words of the Constitution in the text of the
decision. Interpretation requires going beyond the mere
words.<br><br>
Nick Gier<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=2>"The god you worship is the god you
deserve."<br>
~~ Joseph Campbell<br>
</font></html>