Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase 'separation of church and state'

[Jesus Saves]

His exact words were that he wanted an 'eternal wall of separation between church and state.'

If you look at all his writings you find that he was very wary of organized religion.

How come I never hear anyone bring this up?

This is Thomas Jefferson here, probably our most important founder...

[Zenlitened]

1. Do a search on Jefferson and that phrase

It's mentioned on DU routinely.

:popcorn:

[Jesus Saves]

2. Not nationally though

I wish prominent Dems and people in the media would bring it up.

[rodeodance]

4. blast this to all the media outlets and lets see who grabs it (or does not

is more likely!!)--

[Jesus Saves]

7. I have actually emailed it to people in the media

I emailed the quote along with links...

[rodeodance]

9. good for you

[patricia92243]

10. And they responded??? My guess would be a big, fat zero.

[Jesus Saves]

11. no response

figures....

[Dogmudgeon]

3. He first used it in a letter

I don't know exactly which one.

Maybe the Jefferson Library is on-line. It might have the exact reference you're looking for.

--p!

[Jesus Saves]

5. It was to the Danbury Baptists' Association

It was while he was president, I think.

[Dob Bole]

6. It was letter to Baptists. Baptists traditionally believe in Separation...

Until 1991, that is, when the Southern Baptist Convention changed its position. The SBC is a GOP mouthpiece these days.

[rodeodance]

12. yes, they are

[rodeodance]

8. and blast it to every Rep and Sen who uses the 'founding fathers'-for

their own purposes!!

[spanone]

13. Any church that preaches politics should be TAXED retroactively.

By that I mean any church that affiliates itself with a political party should have to pay taxes from the moment they opened their doors.

[rodeodance]

14. cable newscasters are not smart enough to do a good report on this-

they are 'personalites'--

[kweerwolf]

15. Here's a link

to the religioustolerance.org website the discusses the principle of separation of church and state:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/scs_intr.htm

[mcscajun]

16. A link to the entire Jefferson letter where the phrase came in...

http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/jefferson_dba.html

In the letter, he directly connects the wording in the First Amendment to the desired purpose; i.e. "...building a wall of separation between church and State..."

It can't really be made any clearer than that — what the intent was in this case.