Ep. 137 - Countdown to Bill of Rights Day--The First Amendment, Part 2

Perhaps no amendment is as hotly debated as the First Amendment, and specifically the clauses related to freedom of religion: the establishment clause and the free exercise clause. Even though none of the charges against the king outlined in the Declaration of Independence concern religion, religious liberty is the very first concern in the Bill of Rights.  In the few words concerning religion, the words "separation of church and state" do not appear.  That phrase comes from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote years later.  Our guest argues the real father and architect of religious liberty in our country is not Thomas Jefferson but James Madison due to Madison's grasp of the American understanding of religious liberty.  Join our student panel and returning guest, Professor Chris Burkett, for this in-depth discussion on the natural right to religious liberty.