A Brief Lesson on the "Separation of Church and State"

Here's the full text of the Jefferson letter:

To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments 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, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. 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.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.




Grouch: It is certainly my opinion that the Supreme Court clearly misinterpreted the Jefferson to suite their own political ends, as with all those who piggy back on that decision.

Most people would be surprised to know----- "It is no exaggeration to say that on Sundays in Washington during the administrations of Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) and of James Madison (1809-1817) the state became the church. Within a year of his inauguration, Jefferson began attending church services in the House of Representatives. Madison followed Jefferson's example, although unlike Jefferson, who rode on horseback to church in the Capitol, Madison came in a coach and four. Worship services in the House--a practice that continued until after the Civil War--were acceptable to Jefferson because they were nondiscriminatory and voluntary. Preachers of every Protestant denomination appeared. (Catholic priests began officiating in 1826.) As early as January 1806 a female evangelist, Dorothy Ripley, delivered a camp meeting-style exhortation in the House to Jefferson, Vice President Aaron Burr, and a "crowded audience." Throughout his administration Jefferson permitted church services in executive branch buildings. The Gospel was also preached in the Supreme Court chambers.

"Jefferson's actions may seem surprising because his attitude toward the relation between religion and government is usually thought to have been embodied in his recommendation that there exist "a wall of separation between church and state." In that statement, Jefferson was apparently declaring his opposition, as Madison had done in introducing the Bill of Rights, to a "national" religion. In attending church services on public property, Jefferson and Madison consciously and deliberately were offering symbolic support to religion as a prop for republican government." source(http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html)

Taylor Wilson: My radical plan for small nuclear fission reactors

The Highest Paid Public Employees in Each State

The highest paid public employee in every one of the 50 states is either a college coach at a public university: football (27), basketball (13), hockey (1), or a college administrator at a public university: president (4), medical school dean (4), law school dean (1).

Could this be one of reasons College tuition has far outpaced inflation?

What Would You Do for a Free Tank of Gas?

Update: What's too good to be true, often isn't. This video was staged with professionals.

How Nations Succeed

Spock vs Spock

Quote of the Day: Russ Nelson

"If prices are information, then subsidies are censorship."

- Russ Nelson

What the Tech Industry Has Learned from Linus Torvalds

The Grouch is a big Linux fan and runs various flavors of Linux on all his computers.

Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin's advice:

1. Don't Dream Big

Zemlin quotes poet David Frost in his first point about not dreaming big: "Don't aim for success if that's what you want. Do what you love and believe in and it will follow."

2. Give It All Away

Zemlin also makes an important point about how companies make money from software that is given away. By giving Linux away, Linus Torvalds and the entire Linux community have created more value than anyone could have imagined. Linux today is estimated to be worth more than $10B.

3. Don't Have a Plan

He goes on to explain that the plan for Linux is there is no plan and shares with the TEDx audience how self-forming communities result in faster, better collaboration. Seven changes are made to Linux every hour, 24 hours a day, because people are self-motivated and care about what they're working on.

4. Don't Be Nice

Zemlin talks here about the value of flame wars, defending ideas and ridiculing code. The result? Better software. He cites a UC Berkeley study that found groups that are encouraged to debate rigorously and defend their ideas, opposed to traditional brainstorming where every idea is a good idea, come up with better ideas.

A 2013 Creed

I choose to be equal.

It is my right to be equal—if I want.

I seek security—not opportunity.

I wish to be a kept citizen,

humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I don't want to take the calculated risk,

to dream and to build, 　　

to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter my government handout for the risk of great rewards;

I prefer the guaranteed existence to the challenges of life;

the stale calm of Utopia to thrill of fulfillment.

I will trade my freedom for beneficence

and my dignity for a handout in a heartbeat.

I will cower before the government, my master,

begging for more in exchange for my vote.

I've abandoned my heritage to stand stooped, ashamed, and afraid;

unable to think and act for myself;

or create anything but what I'm told;

or to face the world boldly

and say "This, with God's help, I have done."

Because everyone knows nothing happens

without government paving the way first.

A 1950's Creed

I do not choose to be a common person.

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security.

I do not wish to be a kept citizen,

humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk,

to dream and to build, 　　

to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;

I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence;

the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.

I will not trade my freedom for beneficence

nor my dignity for a handout.

I will never cower before any master

nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid;

to think and act for myself;

to enjoy the benefit of my creations;

and to face the world boldly

and say "This, with God's help, I have done."

Picture of the Day:

Dan Ariely: What makes us feel good about our work?

Did FDR End or Extend the Great Depression?

Straight talk for women about the wage gap