The Founding Fathers (warning: quotes are not taken out of context)

Time out. I'm not trying to prove anything about the constitution. Besides the fact that it was writen, argued over, and finally completed by some very great people.

By the way. Morning red.

 

That's not exactly correct. He opposed government control and suppression of religion. At least that is how I interpret what he has said. I base this off not only the letter to the Baptist church but from the many other writings and statements from him on this subject. People who argue against this tend to only use the letter as proof. The letter is subjective, however when looked at in conjunction with the rest of his statements it seems to make his meaning clear.

 

The issue is NOT how many founders were Christian. The issue is NOT how big a part of life Christianity was. The issue is NOT whether or not the founders were "inspired" (whatever that means) by some other notions when writing the Constitution.

The issue is WHAT THEY ACTUALLY WROTE, according to the decisions and agreements they made inside the Constitutional Convention.

The issue is how this country was FOUNDED, not on if and how they were "inspired."

I'm inspired every day to build a better world for my son, but that doesn't mean I'd write a Constitution that makes it legal to burn down your church.

The statement from the Treaty of Tripoli, our first official treaty, and the letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Baptists are all you really need to know that when they sat down in that Convention in Philadelphia they agreed that church and state should be separated.

You don't need the government sponsoring your religion unless you're unconfident in the power of its message. Furthermore, you should be careful what you wish for. When government pays for your religion they will make your religious choices for you, and reverence by force is a surefire way of turning people off. The founders realized those things because they came here from Europe to escape them.

Go to Europe, and see what state religions have done for attendance there. Even Iran has fewer religionists by percentage than does the USA.

 

Believe whatever you want rex.

 

I'm a devout Christian and see no reason why religion should be embedded in the government, other than by the officials we choose to elect.

Sure, it's convenient now when the majority is Christian. Times change though, and I'm guessing many people would be singing a different tune if the Muslims were in charge.

Oh wait a minute, THAT'S the form of government that most agree is BAD! Especially the conservatives...Taliban, Iran...hmm...maybe religion and government SHOULD be distinct.

 

damn we need new topics. somebody come up with one. cparso, you like to come up with topics. get on it.

 

You are 100% correct. But, our government was never intended to limit religion. Everyone misunderstands my position on this subject. I do not want a state ran religion. I don't want Christianity forced on everyone like some kind of indoctrination. Myself along with many, many others believe that over the last 40 years or so, government has increasingly become more and more suppressive of our freedom of religion. The purpose of this thread was to collect evidence that the early Americans and founders of our government had no intention for it to suppress religion. Specifically, Christianity.

 

Christ is the source of Democracy. The idea that all men are created equal is a result of Christ's teachings that God loves every human gentile or Jew, sinner or saved, woman or man.

Chritianity did have a great influence on many of the founding fathers and statesmen of the time, and this is evident in the Constitution itself, but the fact is the Constitution was framed during the Great Enlightenment, when most people of prominance were Diest.

 

I don't think he wanted you talking about his religion...