TWIH: Thomas Paine passes away

I agree for the most part, though far, far, far from what we know as liberal today. It is also worth pointing out that separation of church and state was not a phrase that was even considered in the debates over the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. It was in fact not coined until 1802 in Jefferson's response to concerns expressed by the Danbury Baptists regarding state control of the Church. Even then it is hard to imagine how the Supreme Court arrived at the verdict they did without completely ignoring or deliberately misconstruing the context in which Jefferson penned the phrase. That context would also have to include the fact that the nation was, in almost every case, established by the descendants of people fleeing from religious oppression.

Both letters for context can be found here:

https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/danburybaptists

One quote to consider: “Society in every state is a blessing,” the pamphlet began, “but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.”
I believe we all know where Mr. Paine would be today with our government telling everyone: do this, do that...