James Madison Against State Religion
Before the Virgina Legislator Jame Madison challenged the Assembly with a thought-provoking question, "What is Christianity?" Did they want the courts of the State to be interpreting this question?
Which edition of the Bible would the civil courts use, Madison asked, "What copy, what translation? Hebrew, Septuagint, or Vulgate?"
Would the law be based on the Old Testament or the New Testament?
Madison continued to question the assembly, would the Bible be interpreted literally, "as dictated every letter by inspiration, or the essential parts only?" Or, would the Bible be interpreted "in general not the words?"
"The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot follow the dictates of other men."
The Constitution would help defend the rights of every citizen. As Madison explained, "A federal government is formed for the protection of its individual members."
Madison wrote, "The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed."
June 8, 1789
Source - US Constitution & Bill of Rights Series (Gregory Schaaf, Ph.D.)
Which edition of the Bible would the civil courts use, Madison asked, "What copy, what translation? Hebrew, Septuagint, or Vulgate?"
Would the law be based on the Old Testament or the New Testament?
Madison continued to question the assembly, would the Bible be interpreted literally, "as dictated every letter by inspiration, or the essential parts only?" Or, would the Bible be interpreted "in general not the words?"
"The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds cannot follow the dictates of other men."
The Constitution would help defend the rights of every citizen. As Madison explained, "A federal government is formed for the protection of its individual members."
Madison wrote, "The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed."
June 8, 1789
Source - US Constitution & Bill of Rights Series (Gregory Schaaf, Ph.D.)
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