Katherine Harris is Wrong, Pt. 1

“We have to have the faithful in government and over time, that lie we have been told, the separation of church and state, people have internalized, thinking that they needed to avoid politics and that is so wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers. And if we are the ones not actively involved in electing those godly men and women and if people aren’t involved in helping godly men in getting elected than we’re going to have a nation of secular laws. That’s not what our founding fathers intended and that’s certainly isn’t what God intended. … we need to take back this country. … And if we don’t get involved as Christians then how could we possibly take this back? …If you are not electing Christians, tried and true, under public scrutiny and pressure, if you’re not electing Christians then in essence you are going to legislate sin. They can legislate sin. They can say that abortion is alright. They can vote to sustain gay marriage. And that will take western civilization, indeed other nations because people look to our country as one nation as under God and whenever we legislate sin and we say abortion is permissible and we say gay unions are permissible, then average citizens who are not Christians, because they don’t know better, we are leading them astray and it’s wrong.”

You remember Katherine Harris, right? Those words are hers, fom The Florida Baptist Witness, first published August 24, 2006. We know she lost the Florida Senate bid in 2006, and that even Republicans were distancing themselves from her when it came down to the wire.

We'll be coming back to her to debunk more of bullshit. For now, let's just tackle this single, insane rant. Why bother? She lost the election after all. The fact remains that there are people who believe her, and voted for her. So if ever you need to argue with people who share her view, I'm going to give you some ammo.

Let's go through some of the nuggets I've put in bold.

...that lie we have been told, the separation of church and state... -Katherine Harris, 2006

This is a common one from conservative Christians with a political agenda. So what, exactly, is this term? We've all heard it, but what does it mean? Where does it come from?

The concept of separation of church and state is outlined somewhat vaguely in the first amendment of the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Like any other old-timey documents, (the Bible for example,) this is open to interpretation. Respecting can have a few meanings. It's very carefully worded. It could mean that Congress can make no law in regards to the establishment of a religion. Or maybe Congress can make no law preferring a single religion over another.

The next part is easy, the government can't tell you that you can't practice your religion. If you want to dress up as a pirate and worship a Flying Spaghetti Monster, it's your right and you have the freedom to do so. Other people might not like it and try to stop you, but the government cannot.

Now with any great writings, this one went through a few drafts first. It's true! After all, even the Bible has been edited over time, but that's something we'll tackle later. Here are some highlights of the earlier drafts of the Bill of Rights, starting with James Madison's original proposal:

“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 pretence, infringed.”

The language was altered in the House to read:

“Congress shall make no law establishing religion, or to prevent the free exercise thereof, or to infringe the rights of conscience.”

In the Senate, the section adopted read:

“Congress shall make no law establishing articles of faith, or a mode of worship, or prohibiting the free exercise of religion, . . .”

This is some fascinating stuff, and there's even more information out there. I highly recommend reading it all. Here's a bit more from Cornell's Annotated Constitution.

It was in the conference committee of the two bodies, chaired by Madison, that the present language was written with its somewhat more indefinite “respecting” phraseology.4 Debate in Congress lends little assistance in interpreting the religion clauses; Madison’s position, as well as that of Jefferson who influenced him, is fairly clear,5 but the intent, insofar as there was one, of the others in Congress who voted for the language and those in the States who voted to ratify is subject to speculation.

So the intent of our founding fathers is pretty clear. In fact, it was Jefferson himself who coined the phrase "separation of church and state."

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

So that debunks another of Harris' quotes, "That’s not what our founding fathers intended and that’s certainly isn’t what God intended." It's exactly what our founding fathers intended.

I love researching the religious views of Jefferson, Madison, Franklin and the gang. I could go on forever about what exactly they thought of Christianity, but there's lots out there for you to read yourself. Another fun point you should keep and use if this debate ever pops up? Any American governmental document, money, or pledge that makes mention of God does not mention Christ.