This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 Excerpt: ...'religion' must mean 'Christian religion, ' because ' Christianity is a part of the common law of this country, ' lying behind and above its constitutions. Those who make this assertion can hardly be serious and intend the real import of their language. If Christianity is a law of the State, like every law, it must ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 Excerpt: ...'religion' must mean 'Christian religion, ' because ' Christianity is a part of the common law of this country, ' lying behind and above its constitutions. Those who make this assertion can hardly be serious and intend the real import of their language. If Christianity is a law of the State, like every law, it must have a sanction. Adequate penalties must be provided to enforce obedience to all its requirements and precepts. No one seriously contends for any such doctrine in this country, or, I might almost say, in this age of the world. The only foundation (rather, the only excuse) for the proposition that Christianity is a part of the law of this country, is the fact that it is a Christian country and that its constitutions and laws are made by a Christian people." The Superior Court of New York City, in the case of Andrew vs. The New York Bible and Prayer-Book Society (4 Sandford's Superior Court Reports, pp. 180-184), said: "The maxim that Christianity is part and parcel of the common law has been frequently repeated by judges and text writers, but few have chosen to examine its truth and attempt to explain its meaning.... If Christianity is a municipal law in the proper sense of the term, as it must be if a part of the common law, every person is liable to be punished by the civil power who refuses to embrace its doctrines and follow its precepts; "and if it must be conceded that in this sense the maxim is untrue it ceases to be intelligible, since a law without a sanction is an absurdity in logic and a nullity in fact." It will readily be seen in the light of these authorities, that those who affirm Christianity to be a part of the common law do not use the term law in its usual sense. They so modify the import of the term as virtual...
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Add this copy of Religion and the State, Or, the Bible and the Public to cart. $39.32, new condition, Sold by Paperbackshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensenville, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Gale Ecco, Sabin Americana.
