By the way the "State" which Jefferson is referring to is Congress "Legislature"
This was written in a letter from 1802 to the Baptists in Danbury, Connecticut.
Essentially his point was that the Federal Government was not going to decide on an official religion...he believed that this was best left up to the states. Basically he supported State's rights on this issue and did not want the Federal Government interfering with the State's rights.
Congress is the ONLY entity restrained by the establishment clause. Not State Legislatures. Not local school boards. Congress.
By the way, let's not forget...Thomas Jefferson had nothing to do with the framing of the Constitution...he's the Declaration of Independance guy...Jefferson was away in France at the time of the Framing of the Constitution.
But as Jefferson appears to be the Founding Father of Choice on this issue...let's look at few other words written by Jefferson:
"The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them."
"If ever there was a holy ware, it was that which saved our liberties and gave us independence." (Reference to the Revolutionaly War)
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How do separationists debate the topic of "School Sponsored Religion" and a Student "Free Speech"?
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