422:
than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbor. But sir, our constitution of government is not specific. Our ancient charter, together with the laws made coincident therewith, were adapted as the basis of our government at the time of our revolution. And such has been our laws and usages, and such still are, that
Religion is considered as the first object of Legislation, and therefore what religious privileges we enjoy (as a minor part of the State) we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights. And these favors we receive at the expense of such degrading acknowledgments, as are inconsistent with the rights of freemen. It is not to be wondered at therefore, if those who seek after power and gain, under the pretense of government and Religion, should reproach their fellow men, should reproach their Chief Magistrate, as an enemy of religion, law, and good order, because he will not, dares not, assume the prerogative of Jehovah and make laws to govern the Kingdom of Christ.
43:
426:
radiant beams of the sun, will shine and prevail through all these States—and all the world—until hierarchy and tyranny be destroyed from the earth. Sir, when we reflect on your past services, and see a glow of philanthropy and goodwill shining forth in a course of more than thirty years, we have reason to believe that
America's God has raised you up to fill the Chair of State out of that goodwill which he bears to the millions which you preside over. May God strengthen you for the arduous task which providence and the voice of the people have called you—to sustain and support you and your Administration against all the predetermined opposition of those who wish to rise to wealth and importance on the poverty and subjection of the people.
272:
421:
Our sentiments are uniformly on the side of religious liberty: that
Religion is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals, that no man ought to suffer in name, person, or effects on account of his religious opinions, that the legitimate power of civil government extends no further
475:
Gentlemen, – The affectionate sentiment of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the
Danbury Baptist Association, give me the highest satisfaction. My duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as
539:
However, many
Baptists in the United States still believe in the wall of separation and support maintaining it. For example, fifteen Baptist organizations, representing collectively over ten million Baptists in America, collaborate with one another to protect religious liberty and the separation of
425:
Sir, we are sensible that the
President of the United States is not the National Legislator and also sensible that the national government cannot destroy the laws of each State, but our hopes are strong that the sentiment of our beloved President, which have had such genial effect already, like the
417:
Sir, Among the many millions in
America and Europe who rejoice in your election to office, we embrace the first opportunity which we have enjoyed in our collective capacity, since your inauguration, to express our great satisfaction in your appointment to the Chief Magistracy in the United States.
492:. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
479:
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole
535:
was formed as a
Christian nation by the Founding Fathers. There is neither a unifying nor a codified doctrinal position among American Baptists. Interpretations of the meaning of "separation of church and state" vary among different Baptist affiliations.
449:, the Danbury Baptists were concerned that a religious majority might "reproach their chief Magistrate... because he will not, dare not assume the prerogatives of Jehovah and make Laws to govern the Kingdom of Christ," thus establishing a
461:
Thomas
Jefferson's response, dated January 1, 1802, concurs with the Danbury Baptists' views on religious liberty, and the accompanying separation of civil government from concerns of religious doctrine and practice.
42:
495:
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and
Creator of man, and tender you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect and esteem.
378:
wrote that the King of England could "command what of man he will, and we are to obey it," but, concerning the church—"with this Kingdom, our lord the King hath nothing to do." In 1614,
418:
And though the mode of expression may be less courtly and pompous than what many others clothe their addresses with, we beg you, sir, to believe, that none is more sincere.
503:
This doctrine, known as the "wall of separation" or "strict separationism," would later become highly influential in 20th century Supreme Court understandings of the
696:
404:, expressing concern over the lack in their state constitution of explicit protection of religious liberty, and against a government establishment of religion.
648:
Letter of Oct. 7, 1801 from Danbury (CT) Baptist Assoc. to Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Wash. D.C.
504:
552:, and many Baptists continue to believe the best course for obtaining and securing freedom of conscience is through the separation of church and state.
681:
Hall, Mark David. "Jeffersonian Walls and Madisonian Lines: The Supreme Court’s Use of History in Religion Clause Cases". Oregon Law Review. 2006
751:
613:
541:
429:
And may the Lord preserve you safe from every evil and bring you at last to his Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Glorious Mediator.
407:
In their letter to the President, the Danbury Baptists affirmed that "Our Sentiments are uniformly on the side of Religious Liberty":
818:
746:
608:
512:
374:
wrote, "the magistrate is not by virtue of his office to meddle with religion, or matters of conscience". That same year,
690:
382:
wrote what is believed to be the earliest Baptist treatise dealing exclusively with the subject of religious liberty.
300:
566:
571:
508:
489:
314:
185:
813:
391:
371:
253:
165:
22:
693:
Religion and the Tea Party in the 2010 Election: An Analysis of the Third Biennial American Values Survey.
476:
they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
347:
105:
95:
411:
The address of the Danbury Baptist Association in the State of Connecticut, assembled October 7, 1801.
220:
175:
127:
658:
Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists (June 1998) – Library of Congress Information Bulletin
351:
215:
331:
258:
230:
799:
359:
293:
210:
511:" does not appear in the United States Constitution, despite its wide use and origin from a
549:
485:
481:
397:
100:
8:
276:
235:
142:
715:"The Decline of the Separation Principle in the Baptist Tradition of Religious Liberty"
545:
775:
132:
726:
515:. The relevance of this reply is a subject of heated debate, with scholars such as
401:
286:
205:
160:
700:
576:
520:
339:
137:
110:
90:
657:
450:
379:
343:
195:
180:
121:
807:
532:
469:
A Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association, in the State of Connecticut.
375:
335:
200:
170:
62:
731:
714:
355:
57:
446:
318:
is one of the primary theological distinctions of the Baptist tradition.
225:
190:
670:
Why The Religious Right is Wrong About Separation of Church & State
516:
72:
414:
To Thomas Jefferson, Esq., President of the United States of America
400:
sent a letter, dated October 7, 1801, to the newly elected President
561:
31:
330:
and America. Some important Baptist figures in the struggle were
327:
326:
Originally, Baptists supported separation of church and state in
271:
67:
466:
Messrs. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, and Stephen S. Nelson
595:
Baptist Historian Dr. Alan Lefever, lecture at Truett Seminary
350:(who was a Baptist for a short period but became a "Seeker"),
480:
American people which declared that their legislature would "
526:
642:
453:
at the cost of the liberties of religious minorities.
637:
Religious Peace: or, a Plea for Liberty of Conscience
776:"Doing Freedom Baptist Style: Freedom of Conscience"
531:In the U.S. today, a group of Baptists believe the
482:
make no law respecting an establishment of religion
523:arguing that the letter was a historical outlier.
805:
519:emphasizing its importance, and others such as
672:. Prometheus, Buffalo, New York, 1993, p. 221.
540:church and state through their funding of the
752:Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
614:Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
542:Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
490:a wall of separation between Church and State
294:
800:Letter to the Danbury Baptists on Wikisource
603:
601:
456:
301:
287:
730:
651:
712:
773:
598:
806:
778:. Baptist History and Heritage Society
527:Contemporary Baptist views in America
505:relationship between church and state
432:Signed in behalf of the Association,
385:
396:The Danbury Baptist Association of
365:
13:
14:
830:
794:
691:Cox, Daniel and Jones, Robert P.
703:2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
270:
41:
767:
739:
567:East Waynesville Baptist Church
438:Eph'm Robbins The Committee
819:Separation of church and state
706:
684:
675:
662:
629:
589:
572:Separation of church and state
509:separation of church and state
315:Separation of church and state
116:Separation of church and state
1:
719:Journal of Church & State
582:
392:Baptists in the United States
774:Deweese, Charles W. (2001).
472:Washington, January 1, 1802
7:
555:
445:As a religious minority in
106:Priesthood of all believers
10:
835:
713:McDaniel, Charles (2008).
499:Th Jefferson Jan. 1. 1802
389:
321:
699:October 10, 2010, at the
486:the free exercise thereof
635:Busher, Leonard (1614).
277:Christianity portal
216:William Bullein Johnson
111:Individual soul liberty
501:
443:
259:Baptist World Alliance
546:Freedom of conscience
464:
409:
254:Baptist denominations
211:James Robinson Graves
814:Baptist Christianity
732:10.1093/jcs/50.3.413
398:Danbury, Connecticut
550:Baptist distinctive
143:Freedom of religion
609:"Baptist Heritage"
441:Stephen S. Nelson
488:," thus building
484:, or prohibiting
386:American Baptists
311:
310:
128:Congregationalism
101:Believers' Church
826:
788:
787:
785:
783:
771:
765:
764:
762:
760:
743:
737:
736:
734:
710:
704:
688:
682:
679:
673:
668:Boston, Robert.
666:
660:
655:
649:
646:
640:
633:
627:
626:
624:
622:
605:
596:
593:
402:Thomas Jefferson
366:English Baptists
303:
296:
289:
275:
274:
206:Charles Spurgeon
161:List of Baptists
45:
36:
34:
18:
17:
834:
833:
829:
828:
827:
825:
824:
823:
804:
803:
797:
792:
791:
781:
779:
772:
768:
758:
756:
745:
744:
740:
711:
707:
701:Wayback Machine
689:
685:
680:
676:
667:
663:
656:
652:
647:
643:
634:
630:
620:
618:
607:
606:
599:
594:
590:
585:
577:Soul competency
558:
529:
521:Mark David Hall
513:founding father
459:
394:
388:
368:
340:Edward Wightman
324:
307:
269:
264:
263:
249:
241:
240:
176:Thomas Grantham
156:
148:
147:
91:Baptist beliefs
86:
78:
77:
53:
32:
30:
12:
11:
5:
832:
822:
821:
816:
796:
795:External links
793:
790:
789:
766:
738:
725:(3): 413–430.
705:
683:
674:
661:
650:
641:
628:
597:
587:
586:
584:
581:
580:
579:
574:
569:
564:
557:
554:
548:is a historic
528:
525:
507:. The phrase "
458:
455:
451:state religion
387:
384:
380:Leonard Busher
367:
364:
348:Roger Williams
344:Leonard Busher
323:
320:
309:
308:
306:
305:
298:
291:
283:
280:
279:
266:
265:
262:
261:
256:
250:
247:
246:
243:
242:
239:
238:
233:
228:
223:
218:
213:
208:
203:
198:
196:Shubal Stearns
193:
188:
183:
181:Roger Williams
178:
173:
168:
163:
157:
154:
153:
150:
149:
146:
145:
140:
135:
130:
125:
122:Sola scriptura
118:
113:
108:
103:
98:
93:
87:
84:
83:
80:
79:
76:
75:
70:
65:
60:
54:
51:
50:
47:
46:
38:
37:
27:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
831:
820:
817:
815:
812:
811:
809:
802:
801:
777:
770:
754:
753:
748:
747:"Our Mission"
742:
733:
728:
724:
720:
716:
709:
702:
698:
695:
694:
687:
678:
671:
665:
659:
654:
645:
638:
632:
616:
615:
610:
604:
602:
592:
588:
578:
575:
573:
570:
568:
565:
563:
560:
559:
553:
551:
547:
543:
537:
534:
533:United States
524:
522:
518:
517:Robert Boston
514:
510:
506:
500:
497:
493:
491:
487:
483:
477:
473:
470:
467:
463:
457:"Make no law"
454:
452:
448:
442:
439:
436:
433:
430:
427:
423:
419:
415:
412:
408:
405:
403:
399:
393:
383:
381:
377:
376:Thomas Helwys
373:
363:
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
336:Thomas Helwys
333:
329:
319:
317:
316:
304:
299:
297:
292:
290:
285:
284:
282:
281:
278:
273:
268:
267:
260:
257:
255:
252:
251:
248:Organizations
245:
244:
237:
236:James P Boyce
234:
232:
229:
227:
224:
222:
221:William Carey
219:
217:
214:
212:
209:
207:
204:
202:
201:Andrew Fuller
199:
197:
194:
192:
189:
187:
184:
182:
179:
177:
174:
172:
171:Thomas Helwys
169:
167:
164:
162:
159:
158:
152:
151:
144:
141:
139:
136:
134:
131:
129:
126:
124:
123:
119:
117:
114:
112:
109:
107:
104:
102:
99:
97:
94:
92:
89:
88:
82:
81:
74:
71:
69:
66:
64:
63:Protestantism
61:
59:
56:
55:
49:
48:
44:
40:
39:
35:
29:
28:
24:
20:
19:
16:
798:
780:. Retrieved
769:
757:. Retrieved
750:
741:
722:
718:
708:
692:
686:
677:
669:
664:
653:
644:
636:
631:
619:. Retrieved
612:
591:
538:
530:
502:
498:
494:
478:
474:
471:
468:
465:
460:
444:
440:
437:
435:Neh,h Dodge
434:
431:
428:
424:
420:
416:
413:
410:
406:
395:
369:
356:Isaac Backus
325:
313:
312:
120:
115:
58:Christianity
15:
447:Connecticut
360:John Leland
352:John Clarke
226:Luther Rice
191:John Bunyan
186:John Clarke
155:Key figures
96:Confessions
808:Categories
583:References
390:See also:
372:John Smyth
332:John Smyth
166:John Smyth
133:Ordinances
73:Anabaptism
68:Puritanism
52:Background
782:16 August
759:16 August
621:16 August
231:John Gill
697:Archived
562:Baptists
556:See also
370:In 1612
85:Doctrine
33:Baptists
23:a series
21:Part of
328:England
322:History
138:Offices
755:. 2010
617:. 2010
358:, and
784:2010
761:2010
623:2010
727:doi
544:.
810::
749:.
723:50
721:.
717:.
611:.
600:^
362:.
354:,
346:,
342:,
338:,
334:,
25:on
786:.
763:.
735:.
729::
639:.
625:.
302:e
295:t
288:v
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_(cropped).jpg)