Alan: Friend James sent the following blurb by way of introducing the post pasted below: "Advances of civilization have always been a battle between reason and knowledge versus suppression and enforcement
Although Yaweh was supposedly central to every aspect of daily life in ancient Israel, an unbroken line of prophets -- including Yeshua the Nazarene -- considered their fellow Israelites a rum lot.
Notably, the word "jeremiad" -- meaning "a prolonged lamentation or complaint; a cautionary or angry harangue" -- derives from the name of the prophet Jeremiah. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah
Although Yaweh was supposedly central to every aspect of daily life in ancient Israel, an unbroken line of prophets -- including Yeshua the Nazarene -- considered their fellow Israelites a rum lot.
Notably, the word "jeremiad" -- meaning "a prolonged lamentation or complaint; a cautionary or angry harangue" -- derives from the name of the prophet Jeremiah. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah
"Yeshua Excoriates Fellow Pharisees"
MAR 17, 2014
If Our Founding Fathers Were All Christians,
Why Did They Say This?
Tolerant Libertarian
Nobody can deny the fact that Christianity has played a huge role in our history. From the first Thanksgiving to the ideas of Jesus Christ that are embroidered in our culture today, Christianity and the Bible is responsible a big part of our heritage.
However, many conservatives will take this fact way out of context. They'll think that you have to be a Christian to be patriotic, which is simply not true. Following the more secularteachings of Jesus Christ (being charitable, loving one another, treating strangers with kindness) is what the men who founded this country were for.
...I'll list the facts straight from our forefathers.
“If I could conceive that the general government might ever be so administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be persuaded, that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.”
- George Washington, letter to the United Baptist Chamber of Virginia (1789)
“Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, then that of blindfolded fear.”
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr (1787)
"In regard to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced, and both by precept and example inculcated on mankind.”
- Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists (1771)
“Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but itis always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law. Take away the law-establishment, and every religion re-assumes its original benignity.”
- Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man (1791)
“Congress has no power to make any religious establishments.”
- Roger Sherman, Congress (1789)
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason."
- Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack (1758)
Alan: The most damaging "half truths" are products of de-contextualization.
For example... Christian "conservatives" would circulate the above quotation but end it with the words, "the best the world is likely to see."
And so Franklin is represented as an orthodox Christian when in fact he was a heterodox latitudinarian.
And so Franklin is represented as an orthodox Christian when in fact he was a heterodox latitudinarian.
For most conservatives it is categorically untenable to question "the divinity of Christ."
Therefore, they cannot bring themselves to relay the very point to which Franklin's observation was headed.
Driven by ideological purity, conservatives admire "a good looking body"
but don't balk at severing its head.
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"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people build a wall of separation between Church & State."
Therefore, they cannot bring themselves to relay the very point to which Franklin's observation was headed.
Driven by ideological purity, conservatives admire "a good looking body"
but don't balk at severing its head.
***
"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people build a wall of separation between Church & State."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to the Danbury Baptists (1802)
"To argue with a man who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead."
- Thomas Paine, The American Crisis No. V (1776)
Note: You can read Paine's whole pamphlet, where he expresses his atheistic beliefs, here.
Note: You can read Paine's whole pamphlet, where he expresses his atheistic beliefs, here.
“Our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, any more than our opinions in physics or geometry.”
- Thomas Jefferson, A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom (1779)
The Jefferson Bible
Wikipedia
"Christian establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption, all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects."
- James Madison, letter to William Bradford, Jr. (1774)
Alan: I am reminded of devout Christian Blaise Pascal's observation: "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal
Alan: I am reminded of devout Christian Blaise Pascal's observation: "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal
"There is nothing which can better deserve our patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness."
- George Washington, address to Congress (1790)
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."
- James Madison, General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia (1785)
James Madison
The genius behind the U.S. Constitution
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Our Founding Fathers On Christianity:
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