Serious debate? That is a game for legal Pharisees; a game played by men of poor and dishonorable character - who manipulate and distort the truth for the satisfaction of their own selfish appetite for power; and a game played by religious wolves in sheep's clothing who would turn the bride of Christ into a whore to effect their own influence upon temporal governance.
How Christian Were the Founders?
“The clergy ... believe that any portion of power confided to me [as President] will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have to fear from me: and enough, too, in their opinion.”
Source: Letter of Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush, Sept. 23, 1800.
"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law."
Source: Letter of Thomas Jefferson to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814.
"I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY TO EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN"
--Thomas Jefferson
Tyranny over the mind of men?
Strictly CommercialJeremiah 6:20
"What do I care about incense from Sheba
or sweet calamus from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please me."
John 14:6-7
Jesus answered,
"I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
Apparently, no visit to Babylon's Mystery Gift Shop is required.
BY GRACE AND FAITH ALONE!
Incense and idolatry - Is the syncretism included for the price of the candles and the Roman State's indulgence - or does that cost extra?
Isis, Ishtar, Oster, Easter... = Syncretism
Christ Frees Us... Christ - not the religious sycophants perched upon the State NewSpeak pyramid's steps; and perhaps that was self-evident to Jefferson, too?
"The right to search for truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true."
--Albert Einstein