jefferson's letter re: separation of church and state

an article worth a close read about the question of the separation of church and state...

in brief, the author discusses letters exchanged between the baptist association of danbury, Connecticut and the newly elected president thomas jefferson... the first, dated 10/07/1801, was a letter from the baptists congratulating jefferson with concerns that their religious privileges, under the constitution, were "favors granted, and not...inalienable rights". jefferson's response showed that he objected to a federally established denomination; and in his letter, he reiterated that religious privileges are "natural" or God-given rights...

definitely worth your time...