Wednesday, August 27, 2003

HEY, JUDGE MOORE....

...the Bill implies either that the Civil Magistrate is a competent Judge of Religious Truth; or that he may employ Religion as an engine of Civil policy. The first is an arrogant pretension falsified by the contradictory opinions of Rulers in all ages, and throughout the world: the second an unhallowed perversion of the means of salvation.

James Madison wrote that in 1785, in "Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments," in which he argued against a bill meant to levy a tax in Virginia in order to pay religious teachers. Here's another excerpt:

Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects? 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?

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