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Quote by John M Swomley

“Since separation precludes financial support or special privilege from government, the churches are free to engage in prophetic criticism of the government and to work for social justice.”

Quote by John M Swomley

Book:Religious Liberty and the Secular State: The Constitutional Context

Work

Religious Liberty and the Secular State: The Constitutional Context

Religious Liberty and the Secular State: The Constitutional Context delves into the complex interplay between religious freedom and the principles of secular governance. The book analyzes the historical and legal foundations of this relationship, offering a comprehensive examination of constitutional principles that govern the separation of church and state. It explores various case studies and legal precedents, providing a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise in maintaining a balance between religious liberty and secular governance. more

Author

John M Swomley is a renowned author, born in 1915. His works span across various fields and are appreciated for their unique style and profound insights. more

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“There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation and discrimination on a reluctant nation's social agenda. Would black churches have been able to take the lead in the struggle had they been dependent on funds doled out for 'faith-based initiatives' . . . ?”

“The idea of America's religious groups fighting over the limited public money to be made available takes us down the road towards the kind of sectarian competition that has torn so many nations apart, and which our separation of church and state has spared us.”

Kind Made Ideas States America Fighting Nations Church Religious Groups Competition Available Separation Torn Church And State Separation Of Church And State Down The Road Public Money

Author:David Saperstein

“So vast a sum, receiving all the protection and benefits of the government, without bearing its proportion of the burdens and expenses of the same, will not be looked upon acquiescently by those who have to pay the taxes. . . . I would suggest the taxation of all property equally.”

States Government Church Pay Taxes Benefits Property Burden Protection Proportion Expenses Receiving Taxation

Author:Ulysses S. Grant

“If the property belongs to God he is able to pay the tax.”

Ifs States Able Church Pay Taxes Property

Book:Lectures of Col. R.G. Ingersoll: Including His Letters on the Chinese God--Is Suicide a Sin?--The Right to One's Life--etc. Etc. Etc

Source: Lectures of Col. R.G. Ingersoll: Including His Letters on the Chinese God--Is Suicide a Sin?--The Right to One's Life--etc. Etc. Etc

“The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time.”

Thinking Men World Wells States Church Opinion Setting Settings All Time Rulers Dominion Separation Of Church And State Legislators Infallible Presumption Separation Between Church And State Uninspired

Book:The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence

Source: The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence

“Systems of religious error have been adopted in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates to maintain these errors. When the clouds of ignorance began to vanish and the people grew more enlightened, there was no other way to keep them in error but to prohibit their altering their religious opinions by severe persecuting laws. In this way persecution became general throughout Europe.”

“Among all the religious persecutions with which almost every page of modern history is stained, no victim ever suffered but for violation of what Government denominated the law of God. To prevent a similar train of evils in this country, the Constitution has wisely withheld from our Government the power of defining the divine law.”

Country States Government Law Evil Church Religious Modern Divine Pages Constitution Victim Train Persecution Defining Violation Modern History Divine Law Religious Persecution

Author:Richard Mentor Johnson

“It is not the legitimate province of the Legislature to determine which religion is true, or what false. Our government is a civil, and not a religious institution.”

States Government Church Religious Institutions Determine Legislature Provinces

Author:Richard Mentor Johnson

“Government sponsorship of religious activity, including prayer services, sacred symbols, religious festivals, and the like, tends to secularize the religious activity rather than make government more ethical or religious.”

States Government Church Religious Prayer Activity Sacred Including Symbols Ethical Festivals Sponsorship

Book:Religious Liberty and the Secular State: The Constitutional Context

Source: Religious Liberty and the Secular State: The Constitutional Context

“Who does not see that . . . the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?”

May Doe States Three Force Church Cases Support Citizens Authority Property Establishment Conform Separation Of Church And State Separation Between Church And State Federalist Papers

Book:Selected Writings of James Madison

Source: Selected Writings of James Madison