Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemnseven
If the framers founded this nation upon "Judeo-Christian values" as many contend, why does the very first amendment to the Constitution guarantee freedom of religion, when the first of the most basic laws of the Hebrew God command that "[he] is the lord thy god, and [we] shall have no other gods before him" ??
So it would appear that the first amendment is be in direct conflict with the first commandment. Not what you'd expect from the men who created this nation upon Judeo-Christian values.
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Give unto Ceasar that which is due Ceasar. Give unto God that which is due God.
As shown in my post above, the Framers firmly believed in the separation of church and state. To me, this is absolutely in line with the Judeo Christian tradition. As I stated earlier, it is my belief that the God revealed in the Talmud and Bible is a God who asks us to freely choose him. Separation of church and state not only permits this but is conducive to such a choice. Despite the attempts of many, belief cannot be mandated, legislated or coerced. For it to be real, it must be chosen. The Founders recognized this and, accordingly, protected that choice through the First Amendment.
Nothing in the First Amendment places anyone or any God above any other. Instead, the Amendment guarantees that each of us is allowed to recognize (or deny) that "[he] is the lord thy god, and [to] have no other gods before him" .