Fellow Declarationists,

Though the Foundation stays clear of campaigns for office, we cannot help having noticed the increasing controversy, both in Illinois, and nationally, about the relation of religion and public policy in our Republic.

This week I'll be posting thoughtful essays and current news articles on this issue, including a few newspaper reports on the way Dr. Keyes and Barack Obama handle the question.

As it happens, my internet students are reading, in our textbook, the section of Chapter 4 "The Roots of American Liberty," dealing with the Scriptural sources of the thought of the Declaration. Accordingly, the subject is much on my mind in my role as teacher.

Next week, we'll be looking at the Philosophical sources.

The whole curriculum, designed by our Foundation, may be purchased at http://emmanuelbooks.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=1356&user=113589946

Articles of interest posted at our site today, Saturday, Sept 25th, include pieces by Catholic and Protestant clergy, and a fine essay by Dr. Thomas G. West on religion and the Founding. http://www.declaration.net/news.asp?docID=4433&y=2004

Also, we are adding a link to http://wallbuilders.com to our list of resources on American Principle. David Barton, the founder of that site, has done fine work in researching and promoting accurate information on the role of religion in the founding and the Constituion, among other things.

Finally, I'd like to express my good wishes to our Jewish friends on the occasion of Yom Kippur. America was the first modern nation to recognize the rights of Jews to freely worship the Lord, and American Jews have always been lovers of liberty. We salute them.

For One Nation, Under God,

Dr. Richard Ferrier,
President, Declaration Foundation