For all the lunatics who keep shouting about how this country was founded as a Christian nation, and how there should not be a separation of church and state please turn your attention to a couple of quotes from Jefferson — author of the Declaration of Independence, and Madison — the father of the Constitution.
Jefferson spoke of “this loathsome combination of church and state” and a little gem from James Madison. He said —
“The civil Government, though bereft of everything like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success, whilst the number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people, have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church from the State.”
My italics.
Why does no one seem to be getting upset about losing our separation of church and state! It’s such a basic right and one of the number one reasons of the creation of the US
I hear you Thea, it’s driving me crazy this insistence that American is a “Christian nation”. No, it’s not. It’s supposed to be neutral (agnostic if you will) about religion. It’s something for the private sector, not for the public sector. It’s why we specifically said there would be no established religion for the U.S.
But the Republicans have become a theocratic party, and it’s scaring me to death.
If only my more Orthodox Brethren would realize that! Its too bad the flush of political power and the desire to control others seems to trump the foundations of not only the United States but of the very Churches themselves! I was raised a Baptist (I am a Heretic of the highest order now… well maybe the third-highest order. I call myself a Free-Ranged Baptist when I don
Love the title. Heretic of the Highest Order. That is definitely a much higher rank then Godless Heathen. We should come up with titles for our skeptics church. Hmmm, yeah that good be really fun.
But on a serious note. Good for you for getting free from those attitudes. My mom was Church of Christ, and it’s really tough to break those intellectual bonds.
Wish I could say it was a struggle, but my family wasn