Belief in Religion and the Separation of Church and State: Q: What is your Opinion of Religion in the Separation of Church and State ? Ans:The first Amendment in the Constitution of the United States says in clear English: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging then freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" What this means is that government has no business in telling you what religion to follow, or what religion is, and no religion is to tell you the type of government we are to have. First, I wish to point out, that if we were to give this right up, does that mean to outlaw religion, or have religion run the the government. So without this Amendment, could we have anarchy ? Further, in one case what then is to distinguishes our liberty, and in the other case what would distinguish the United States for countries like Iran ? Secondly we can consider the question from the standpoint that religion is a man made item as much as the Constitution is. In general, both religion and government can serve many good purposes or sometimes some misunderstood purposes. In the Story of Moses coming off the mountain with the 10 commandments in hand, these 10 Morals served as the foundation of the Christian Religion in the similar manner that the Constitution of the United States serves this county. Where they are similar, is that the 10 commandants were the most fundamental guides for survival of a people who for the first time in their lives were liberated from the Tyranny of Slavery, found that they could regress, where Moses brought to them the Word of God as the authority for their new guidance. The Constitution serves a similar purpose, but I wouldn't wish to infer that one obsoletes, or replaces the other; but that the Constitution is a working model that provides the necessary structure for the Government of the Nation, and its accountability which is made up of many religious followings. As a foundation, the 10 Commandments have lasted through out centuries, in a similar manner that other writings from other religions have served for the benefit of human kind; in other words, to prolong human life and provide a path for its tomorrow. The Constitution in effect does the same, but with a Structure that provides representation of the people. Thomas Jefferson demonstrated a special wisdom in my opinion in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association about the 'Separation of Church and State'. As man made Items, both Religion and the Constitution hold great power for the leaders in question. The Constitution through its diversity of bodies is intended to regulate that power in the name of the people that it serves. The Danbury Baptist Association by virtue of representing religion is to serve God. What interpretations of what that means in terms of practice is also man made, and therefore subject to the abuse of power from human failings; where the Constitution provides Balance in the management of Power when subject to the same human failings through accountability. Although the Roman Empire has been viewed in terms of its greatness, and in fact had a Senate, Caesar was viewed as a God. Historically Empires do not last, where Wars were in the name of 'God', leaders who claimed to be God's, or leaders who claimed to have a special relationship with God over others. In addition to the Nazi empire, we just have to look even at the Crusades, as well as the Ottoman Empire in their siege of Constantinople was all in the name of God. Today, we use the same slogans in the use and squandering of life, where Osama Bin Laden ostensibly has used this reasoning to kill all 'nonbelievers', and in our retaliation, as well as in our Invasion into Iraq, has had inferences to be in the name of God in killing 'Evil Doers'. The Constitution further avoids the opportunity of using plausible deni-ability of saying that 'God told me to do so', but instead requires that we take responsibility instead for our actions. The Constitution also does not allows us an 'Exit Strategy' of being forgiven for our Sins. In this Accountability, the United States has the opportunity to not be an Empire that will someday fall, but instead have the ability to endure time as a structure of Government for its people through the just balance of Power. Blessed are the Peace Makers is something that has always impressed me as a statement in the Bible, and given that the practitioners of Religion regard this, like the 10 Commandments, then its practionioners can serve Human Kind more readily than just praising its creator. When its practitioner's seek peace just in the United States alone where there is no more the notion of the 'Red and the Blue' , is something I believe can offer their congregations a very tangible expression of God's way for their Religion. Orion Karl Daley Presidential Candidate for 2008 for the Strategic Future of our country Balanced Party http://unity2008.org