Original sentence: "Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects every individual."We have solved ... the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and obedience to the laws."[N]o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities., Thomas Jefferson: Writings (1984), p.Allen was only 12 when Jefferson retired the presidency, there is large doubt as to the accuracy of Allen's diary entry.And we have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort which results from leaving every one to profess freely and openly those principles of religion which are the inductions of his own reason and the serious convictions of his own inquiries.Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state,' therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.He further developed his thoughts in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1779), quoted from Merrill D.Moreover, state support of the church tends to make the clergy unresponsive to the people and leads to corruption within religion.Peterson, ed.State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights.This is his second use of the term "wall of separation," here quoting his own use in the Danbury Baptist letter.This wording was cited several times by the Supreme Court as an accurate description of the Establishment Clause: Reynolds (98 U.at 164, 1879); Everson (330 U.at 232, 1948).at 59, 1947); McCollum (333 U.— as quoted in the Letter to the Virginia Baptists (1808)
Edited sentence: Allen was only 12 when Jefferson retired the presidency, there is doubt as to the accuracy of Allen's diary entry