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To: FreeTally
Just keep in mind, though, that they were not really for religious freedom, unless you were of some type of "christian religion", and even then, you better not let your teachings stray too far from theirs.

Actually, some like to claim that the First Amendment was intended only to apply to Christian religions however there were rejected drafts of the Amendment that would have amounted to just that -- in the end the Amendment was worded without any conditions of application, one would think that had it only been intended for Christianity that one of the previous drafts would have been chosen instead.
16 posted on 07/01/2002 10:11:01 AM PDT by Dimensio
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To: Dimensio
Actually, some like to claim that the First Amendment was intended only to apply to Christian religions however there were rejected drafts of the Amendment that would have amounted to just that -- in the end the Amendment was worded without any conditions of application, one would think that had it only been intended for Christianity that one of the previous drafts would have been chosen instead.

Well, as we all know, the Constitution in the form that was ratified was a "compromise". They compromised over many issues including slavery, religion and the "enumeration" of rights. Just as many FF's wanted to end slavery, but compromised, we had many who didn't like anyone who didn't fit their brand of Christianity, and compromised on the wording of th constitution. I personally think that history shows their hypocrisy on many issues, but sometimes its hard to recognize because there was so much "undiscovered" land in America that, rather than fight, people could just move and start a new life under their own "moral" rules. We do not have that today. We see many people wanting a christian theocracy in this country. If "America" in the 1700's was only the size of the original 13 colonies, we would have been living under a theocracy for nearly 250 years.

I think the laws passed on State and local levels show that many "leaders" in the 1700's and 1800's had no intention of a "free society". But, back then, they had a legitimate claim of "If you do not like it, then move". And back then, people in Maryland didn't know or care what people that moved out west really did(let me emphasize "didn't know"). In the 21st century, its hard for people to turn on television, see someone living on the opposite coast, and not say, "government, make them stop! Conserve that land(that I dont own)! Raise taxes on them! Make them abide by the laws of my State!"

The point? The Constitution has flawes, simply because it was written by men who are natually "flawed" creatures. We will never get anywhere as a nation until everyone realizes this, and realizes that the flaws have to do with the respect of the natural rights of all.

18 posted on 07/01/2002 12:04:57 PM PDT by FreeTally
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