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Symbols of a Christian Nation
Well every day there is something new, mostly negative information in the news, today I wake to hear that all religious symbols have been banned ffrom the Capitol in Washington.No Christmas tree or Mennorah ,you know between the crosses being covered up in the hills, and trying to stop us using words like Christmas for Holidays ,what are they trying to do to America it was founded by the pilgrims as a Christian Nation, I dont get it , is anyone going put a STOP to all this ;Change' transformation,;remaking ? where will it end........ Communism, Marxism ..........
I would say freedom of religion as being one of the main rights that is preserved in the constitution is essential and should not be stopped. America may have been founded by people from one religion but it grew to accomodate many others as many people who came to the United States were fleeing religious prosecution. I wouldn't go so far as to say its communism and Marxism because there are very few countries that have those political beliefs as they were unworkable economically. As well those countries have returned to religion now including Russia. I would say myself as a non believer, that people's rights to practice and express their religion should not be stopped in any manner because it is part of one of the essential rights of the constitution. At the same time no one should force any belief system on any person but if they all have equal respect then that is one of our essential political freedoms.
I would add that I would want to know who specifically gave that order and where it came from. From what I know president Obama and his family go to church. As well from what I have seen in N.Y.C. (and worked with some of those people) the church has had a very positive impact on African American people who live in poverty in N.Y.C. and religion has been a very positive part of the freedoms of that community from Martin Luther King (who was of course a preacher) onwards. My family emigrated here from Russia fleeing prosecution of people who were Jewish at the turn of the century. That was long before the Holocaust but some people were murdered in pogroms then. As well, all of the people who remained during the Holocaust were murdered then. My grandparents went to visit there many years later and the whole village where my family originated in Russia was wiped out as were many. During World War II, that was one of the "four freedoms" (as defined by F.D.R. in a speech to explain why World War II was neccessary) America fough for. I would agree that limiting people's rights to their religion is hypocritical. However, I would want to know what group spoke out against it to begin with.
It came from the white house ....
Actually I have googled for further information and I am still unclear where it came from.,one report said that it was on Obamas 'advice' there is plenty of information if you want to check it out .....
For all the many years this Country has celebrated Christmas. People that didn't want to celebrate didn't, and people that wanted to did. Suddenly it became a big problem to people, because they thought differently. There is no difference than a Christian being around any other belief or celebration that a non-Christian has. The tree is and always has been a Christmas tree. They can call it by any other name, but it is what it is, a Christmas Tree. Does it hurt someone to hear Merry Christmas? I take offense at Happy Halloween! Yet, how many complaints have we openly seen about the witches, graves, costumes, etc that goes with Halloween? I don't remember seeing 1. As a matter of fact, last year Sarah Palin was hanging from a tree and McCain was burning in a chimney at one person's house and plastered all over the tv. The guy said he didn't think it was a good idea to have Obama hanging like Sarah, as people would take offense?!! I took offense of what he did to Sarah and McCain. But it was ok. So, what is the difference? That is a religious holiday as well, after all, it is celebrating satanic beliefs with witches and devils. I read a book, Research of Religions in America, years ago. At that time there were 5,000 satanic churches in the U.S. Halloween is a night of sacrifice for those that worship him. It is what it is, and no amount of candy is going to change it.
I was flipping through tv about a year ago, and thought I was on a news station. There was a man and a policeman trying to take up a cement stand that had the 10 Commandments on it in front of a government building. They couldn't move it, so they took a big hammer and started beating it to break it up and destroy it. The guy said we can do that to destroy it because we just have to destroy the Word of God. There was a woman picketing on the sidewalk and she turned to them and said, You are going to burn in Hell for that, and she kept carrying her sign. I was in absolute shock, and I cried. Then I found it was not for real. Now, it may as well be, because it is happening. If they did that to a statue of Buddha or any other religion's god or whatever they worship, there would be big repercussions. There could be a statue of Satan sitting on government property and nobody would care.
Think about it, where there is Communism, the Church goes underground. People are killed or in prison for so much as a page from the Bible. In my life time, of which I am almost 60, time went from respect in yourself, Churches that were on fire for God, and people that listened and tried to be good, raising their children that way and children were punished for wrong-doing. Times were much safer. Now children kill, people kill their families, even babies in their beds, the streets and your homes are not safe, children see everything on the streets, our enemies are treated like citizens, they complain about mistreatment that doesn't exist and we persecute our men and women that live to protect us, there is no right and no wrong, preachers can't preach Scriptures because their Churches will have problems with those that disagree, marriage is no longer what it was, what was an abomination in Scriptures are now rights. This Country has taken a complete turn around. If I was God looking down from Heaven, I would see a Country that reminded me of a city that was destroyed for many of the same things.
I was flipping through tv about a year ago, and thought I was on a news station. There was a man and a policeman trying to take up a cement stand that had the 10 Commandments on it in front of a government building. They couldn't move it, so they took a big hammer and started beating it to break it up and destroy it. The guy said we can do that to destroy it because we just have to destroy the Word of God. There was a woman picketing on the sidewalk and she turned to them and said, You are going to burn in Hell for that, and she kept carrying her sign. I was in absolute shock, and I cried. Then I found it was not for real. Now, it may as well be, because it is happening. If they did that to a statue of Buddha or any other religion's god or whatever they worship, there would be big repercussions. There could be a statue of Satan sitting on government property and nobody would care.
Think about it, where there is Communism, the Church goes underground. People are killed or in prison for so much as a page from the Bible. In my life time, of which I am almost 60, time went from respect in yourself, Churches that were on fire for God, and people that listened and tried to be good, raising their children that way and children were punished for wrong-doing. Times were much safer. Now children kill, people kill their families, even babies in their beds, the streets and your homes are not safe, children see everything on the streets, our enemies are treated like citizens, they complain about mistreatment that doesn't exist and we persecute our men and women that live to protect us, there is no right and no wrong, preachers can't preach Scriptures because their Churches will have problems with those that disagree, marriage is no longer what it was, what was an abomination in Scriptures are now rights. This Country has taken a complete turn around. If I was God looking down from Heaven, I would see a Country that reminded me of a city that was destroyed for many of the same things.
I do agree with what you said about Halloween. When I was growing up it was a holiday just for kids to go trick or treating and the costumes were tasteful. Now that the displays have become so morbid it is somewhat disturbing. Because of having several near death experiences from my physical disability, this Halloween, my family and I took a small trip outside of where I live. I really couldn't enjoy the idea of death being amusing. As for Christmas I do notice that the sales now start around Halloween and I think that the rampant commercialism cheapens any greater meaning to it. To me what is the cause of this is people's increasing materialism and self obsessed lifestyles. I would believe that was called the "me generation" but that attitude has not really left and in some ways it has spread among the mentality of some people in America. I did see that even when I was growing up and disagreed with it even then.
Hmmmm that's strange because my news station just showed the Christmas tree that is being delivered to the white house for the Obama's. Don't know why he would ban them elsewhere. Probably just more right wing propoganda.
This has been going on for several years, getting progressively worse each year. Has nothing to do with the white house. The bible warns us of these events, saying this will happen and eventually we will really be physically persecuted for our beliefs. The problem with most people who got a problem with the christian faith are either atheists who do not believe period, claiming division of church and state or those of conflicting faiths wanting their symbols up and since we cannot please everyone, it seems to be easier to have none. Like a bunch of children on the playground if you ask me. Is Revelations coming true in our lifetime.
Yes its odd as president Obama himself has directly spoken about promoting faith based charities and has not supported any legislation that would restrict people's religious freedoms. Division of church and state has been in the constitution from the beginning but then again so has freedom of religion. The two were not meant to undermine each other.
I hear its called a holiday tree at the White house, they showed a pic of the tree that they are allowing in the Capitol, but that also is a holiday tree...CNN news.
Well then I would agree that kind of stupidity is political correctness which misses the basic point of what America is about as regards freedom of religion. People should have the right to celebrate Christmas in a traditional faith based manner and being respectful of other belief systems should not mean detracting from Christianity. I know people who are highly religious Christians and would not want their religious rights taken away from them. As I said the people in my family who emigrated here were thankful for their religious freedoms and the right not to be persecuted. They did respect other religions though and of course culturally assimilated as did the majority of immigrants at the time. That is what America has always stood for. Equality and diversity and any of the current terms used should not mean detracting from what the majority of Americans believe in, just in allowing other people to have their beliefs as well. I do find that disappointing. There I agree. As for what has gone wrong in America in general though I would find many causes and I would think its best people try to unite to take some practical steps to stop what we are living with now as regards the reccession and poverty and other injustices, regardless of any belief in the after life but from what I have read some churches have taken that stance, which has not changed any of their other beliefs or detracted from it. As I said I have seen the church contribute to many communities and taking many people's rights away does not enhance others.
Well, all this political correctness, just to keep from someone being offended is doing more harm than good in my personal opinion. IMO, Dec 25 was a day chosen for the followers of Christ to celebrate and anyone that disagrees does not have to partake. We need to get back to what it stands for but now it is simply another way of making money. We cannot have it both ways. I wonder how many children really know what it means.
Someone mentioned last year to me that we could no longer say we have a "Christmas break"; it is now a "Winter break". My answer was --- "you can call it whatever you like, but if it weren't for it being the Christmas season, YOU would NOT be getting this "winter break" that you so look forward to. The person got very upset with me because, of course, I was NOT being politically correct; however, as she turned on her heel and *huffed* away from me, I made sure to say "MERRY CHRISTMAS and MAY GOD BLESS YOU"..............
So -- it can be called whatever anyone wants to call it -- we all know it's still because of Christmas (Christ's birth) that we have the festivities of the season.......
Every where I go during the Christmas season, I make it a point to say "Merry Christmas" -- NOT "Happy Holidays".........I encourage everyone else who celebrates Christmas to do the same.
For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I respect your right for that also, along with your right to celebrate whatever holidays go with your religion; however, I very respectfully request that you NOT try to ruin Christmas for others, just because you can.
So -- it can be called whatever anyone wants to call it -- we all know it's still because of Christmas (Christ's birth) that we have the festivities of the season.......
Every where I go during the Christmas season, I make it a point to say "Merry Christmas" -- NOT "Happy Holidays".........I encourage everyone else who celebrates Christmas to do the same.
For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I respect your right for that also, along with your right to celebrate whatever holidays go with your religion; however, I very respectfully request that you NOT try to ruin Christmas for others, just because you can.
That is the way to go, I use the word Christmas if others choose to say Holiday well I wont respond to it,its up to parents to speak out when they do this in the schools, they did the same thing in England they took away the carols and the nativity no nativity scenes..well that was at my daughters kids schools,we dont have to obey them we arent being chucked in jail for it are we...yet,.all those beautiful carols , to not hear them ..
Well, let me be the first to say " MERRY CHRISTMAS" EVERYONE! Tis the season!
Thomas Paine was a pamphleteer whose manifestos encouraged the faltering spirits of the country and aided materially in winning the war of Independence:
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of...Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."
From:
The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine, pp. 8,9 (Republished 1984, Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY)
George Washington, the first president of the United States, never declared himself a Christian according to contemporary reports or in any of his voluminous correspondence. Washington Championed the cause of freedom from religious intolerance and compulsion. When John Murray (a universalist who denied the existence of hell) was invited to become an army chaplain, the other chaplains petitioned Washington for his dismissal. Instead, Washington gave him the appointment. On his deathbed, Washinton uttered no words of a religious nature and did not call for a clergyman to be in attendance.
From:
George Washington and Religion by Paul F. Boller Jr., pp. 16, 87, 88, 108, 113, 121, 127 (1963, Southern Methodist University Press, Dallas, TX)
John Adams, the country's second president, was drawn to the study of law but faced pressure from his father to become a clergyman. He wrote that he found among the lawyers 'noble and gallant achievments" but among the clergy, the "pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces". Late in life he wrote: "Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, "This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!"
It was during Adam's administration that the Senate ratified the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which states in Article XI that "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."
From:
The Character of John Adams by Peter Shaw,
Thomas Jefferson, third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, said:"I trust that there is not a young man now living in the United States who will not die a Unitarian." He referred to the Revelation of St. John as "the ravings of a maniac" and wrote:
The Christian priesthood, finding the doctrines of Christ levelled to every understanding and too plain to need explanation, saw, in the mysticisms of Plato, materials with which they might build up an artificial system which might, from its indistinctness, admit everlasting controversy, give employment for their order, and introduce it to profit, power, and pre-eminence. The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus himself are within the comprehension of a child; but thousands of volumes have not yet explained the Platonisms engrafted on them: and for this obvious reason that nonsense can never be explained."
From:
Thomas Jefferson, an Intimate History by Fawn M. Brodie
"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." -- Thomas Jefferson (letter to J. Adams April 11,1823)
James Madison, fourth president and father of the Constitution, was not religious in any conventional sense. "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have 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."
From:
The Madisons by Virginia Moore,
Ethan Allen, whose capture of Fort Ticonderoga while commanding the Green Mountain Boys helped inspire Congress and the country to pursue the War of Independence, said, "That Jesus Christ was not God is evidence from his own words." In the same book, Allen noted that he was generally "denominated a Deist, the reality of which I never disputed, being conscious that I am no Christian." When Allen married Fanny Buchanan, he stopped his own wedding ceremony when the judge asked him if he promised "to live with Fanny Buchanan agreeable to the laws of God." Allen refused to answer until the judge agreed that the God referred to was the God of Nature, and the laws those "written in the great book of nature."
From:
Religion of the American Enlightenment by G. Adolph Koch
Benjamin Franklin, delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, said:
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion...has received various corrupting Changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his Divinity; tho' it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the Truth with less trouble." He died a month later, and historians consider him, like so many great Americans of his time, to be a Deist, not a Christian.
From:
Benjamin Franklin, A Biography in his Own Words, edited by Thomas Fleming, p. 404, (1972, Newsweek, New York, NY) quoting letter by BF to Exra Stiles March 9, 1790.
The words "In God We Trust" were not consistently on all U.S. currency until 1956, during the McCarthy Hysteria.
The Treaty of Tripoli, passed by the U.S. Senate in 1797, read in part: "The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."
The treaty was written during the Washington administration, and sent to the Senate during the Adams administration. It was read aloud to the Senate, and each Senator received a printed copy. This was the 339th time that a recorded vote was required by the Senate, but only the third time a vote was unanimous (the next time was to honor George Washington). There is no record of any debate or dissension on the treaty. It was reprinted in full in three newspapers - two in Philadelphia, one in New York City. There is no record of public outcry or complaint in subsequent editions of the papers.
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of...Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."
From:
The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine, pp. 8,9 (Republished 1984, Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY)
George Washington, the first president of the United States, never declared himself a Christian according to contemporary reports or in any of his voluminous correspondence. Washington Championed the cause of freedom from religious intolerance and compulsion. When John Murray (a universalist who denied the existence of hell) was invited to become an army chaplain, the other chaplains petitioned Washington for his dismissal. Instead, Washington gave him the appointment. On his deathbed, Washinton uttered no words of a religious nature and did not call for a clergyman to be in attendance.
From:
George Washington and Religion by Paul F. Boller Jr., pp. 16, 87, 88, 108, 113, 121, 127 (1963, Southern Methodist University Press, Dallas, TX)
John Adams, the country's second president, was drawn to the study of law but faced pressure from his father to become a clergyman. He wrote that he found among the lawyers 'noble and gallant achievments" but among the clergy, the "pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces". Late in life he wrote: "Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, "This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!"
It was during Adam's administration that the Senate ratified the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which states in Article XI that "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."
From:
The Character of John Adams by Peter Shaw,
Thomas Jefferson, third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, said:"I trust that there is not a young man now living in the United States who will not die a Unitarian." He referred to the Revelation of St. John as "the ravings of a maniac" and wrote:
The Christian priesthood, finding the doctrines of Christ levelled to every understanding and too plain to need explanation, saw, in the mysticisms of Plato, materials with which they might build up an artificial system which might, from its indistinctness, admit everlasting controversy, give employment for their order, and introduce it to profit, power, and pre-eminence. The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus himself are within the comprehension of a child; but thousands of volumes have not yet explained the Platonisms engrafted on them: and for this obvious reason that nonsense can never be explained."
From:
Thomas Jefferson, an Intimate History by Fawn M. Brodie
"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." -- Thomas Jefferson (letter to J. Adams April 11,1823)
James Madison, fourth president and father of the Constitution, was not religious in any conventional sense. "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have 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."
From:
The Madisons by Virginia Moore,
Ethan Allen, whose capture of Fort Ticonderoga while commanding the Green Mountain Boys helped inspire Congress and the country to pursue the War of Independence, said, "That Jesus Christ was not God is evidence from his own words." In the same book, Allen noted that he was generally "denominated a Deist, the reality of which I never disputed, being conscious that I am no Christian." When Allen married Fanny Buchanan, he stopped his own wedding ceremony when the judge asked him if he promised "to live with Fanny Buchanan agreeable to the laws of God." Allen refused to answer until the judge agreed that the God referred to was the God of Nature, and the laws those "written in the great book of nature."
From:
Religion of the American Enlightenment by G. Adolph Koch
Benjamin Franklin, delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, said:
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion...has received various corrupting Changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his Divinity; tho' it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the Truth with less trouble." He died a month later, and historians consider him, like so many great Americans of his time, to be a Deist, not a Christian.
From:
Benjamin Franklin, A Biography in his Own Words, edited by Thomas Fleming, p. 404, (1972, Newsweek, New York, NY) quoting letter by BF to Exra Stiles March 9, 1790.
The words "In God We Trust" were not consistently on all U.S. currency until 1956, during the McCarthy Hysteria.
The Treaty of Tripoli, passed by the U.S. Senate in 1797, read in part: "The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."
The treaty was written during the Washington administration, and sent to the Senate during the Adams administration. It was read aloud to the Senate, and each Senator received a printed copy. This was the 339th time that a recorded vote was required by the Senate, but only the third time a vote was unanimous (the next time was to honor George Washington). There is no record of any debate or dissension on the treaty. It was reprinted in full in three newspapers - two in Philadelphia, one in New York City. There is no record of public outcry or complaint in subsequent editions of the papers.
Stepping aside from any commentary on religion I believe some of the ideas of Plato were the foundation for the very concept of a democracy and I respect them. I tend to think what happenned is that some people reacted to some of the hedonistic extremes of the counterculture of the 60's and formed what under Richard Nixon was called "the silent majority". Every since then there has been some form of culture war in America with both sides distrustful of either other and its neither been fruitful nor productive. As for Christmas itself its complex because some of the current parts of the celebration of it (such as a Christmas tree) weren't added until the late 1800's. I also know that there people who are highly religious Christians who only celebrate the birth of Jesus and no more because they consider some of the symbols of Christmas (such as the Christmas tree) to be pagan. As well of course Hanukah did not originally involve gift giving until relatively recent times. That was added to incorporate ideas of Christmas. And Kwanza was a holiday celebration that was invented in the 1970's. The fixed date of December 25 for Christmas was because it coincided with the Roman date of the Saturnalia and there was a clear effort to stop paganism at the end of the Roman empire and convert people to Christianity. The fact that there are holidays at every solstice is clearly because people in ancient times did not understand the coming and going of the sun and saw a form of birth and rebirth in it. But the idea of the "holidays" as a saying or idea is a recent culturally invented concept. People have the right to their religious beliefs and they should not have to be altered for other peopIe. I certainly do not think it is a time to alienate people as many people during this time regardless of background have depression or other coping issues especially during this reccession. I find it best to step back and let people enjoy what they can of life, including their right to religious freedom as guaranteed under the first amendment.
whoops I bet that took you a few hours mikesmom.......a veritable thesis....I will see if I can digest it LOL
Well said.....................
I want everyone to enjoy their Holidays however they want. I like to see people happy celebrating their beliefs - so long as they don't try to impress them on me.
When I see something as foolish as the following I respond.
America it was founded by the pilgrims as a Christian Nation, I dont get it , is anyone going put a STOP to all this ;Change' transformation,;remaking ? where will it end........ Communism, Marxism ..........
I know that people generally don't want to learn or be exposed to anything that might not dovetail perfectly with their preconceptions - especially among political radicals - be them extreme left or right. My post merely reflects statements that were made by the various founders. I didn't make them up. They say what the say and I don't see that those particular folks were intending to found a Christian nation. If some of the founders did I would appreciate being directed to their writings. I want to know things even if they might go against my personal beliefs.
No Mpops, this didn't take me any time at all. I don't research this stuff in response to what I see here. I have researched religion and politics for years and I have a lot of material saved - this is from but one article out of a few dozen.
Mike
When I see something as foolish as the following I respond.
America it was founded by the pilgrims as a Christian Nation, I dont get it , is anyone going put a STOP to all this ;Change' transformation,;remaking ? where will it end........ Communism, Marxism ..........
I know that people generally don't want to learn or be exposed to anything that might not dovetail perfectly with their preconceptions - especially among political radicals - be them extreme left or right. My post merely reflects statements that were made by the various founders. I didn't make them up. They say what the say and I don't see that those particular folks were intending to found a Christian nation. If some of the founders did I would appreciate being directed to their writings. I want to know things even if they might go against my personal beliefs.
No Mpops, this didn't take me any time at all. I don't research this stuff in response to what I see here. I have researched religion and politics for years and I have a lot of material saved - this is from but one article out of a few dozen.
Mike
I want to know things even if they might go against my personal beliefs.
--------------------------------------
Yes - Thomas Paine was a deist - but here are quotes from some of the others......
John Adams in a speech to the military in 1798 warned his fellow countrymen stating,
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
.Benjamin Rush, Signer of the Declaration of Independence said.
"[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be aid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind."
Noah Webster, author of the first American Speller and the first Dictionary said,
"[T]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence."
Gouverneur Morris, Penman and Signer of the Constitution.
"[F]or avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy . . . the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments. [T]herefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God."
Fisher Ames author of the final wording for the First Amendment wrote,
"[Why] should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book? Its morals are pure, its examples captivating and noble. The reverence for the Sacred Book that is thus early impressed lasts long; and probably if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind."
John Jay, Original Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court,
"The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts."
James Wilson, Signer of the Constitution; U. S. Supreme Court Justice,
"Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine. . . . Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other."
Noah Webster, author of the first American Speller and the first Dictionary stated,
"The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. . . All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."
--------------------------------------
Yes - Thomas Paine was a deist - but here are quotes from some of the others......
John Adams in a speech to the military in 1798 warned his fellow countrymen stating,
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
.Benjamin Rush, Signer of the Declaration of Independence said.
"[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be aid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind."
Noah Webster, author of the first American Speller and the first Dictionary said,
"[T]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence."
Gouverneur Morris, Penman and Signer of the Constitution.
"[F]or avoiding the extremes of despotism or anarchy . . . the only ground of hope must be on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are the only possible support of free governments. [T]herefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God."
Fisher Ames author of the final wording for the First Amendment wrote,
"[Why] should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book? Its morals are pure, its examples captivating and noble. The reverence for the Sacred Book that is thus early impressed lasts long; and probably if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind."
John Jay, Original Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court,
"The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts."
James Wilson, Signer of the Constitution; U. S. Supreme Court Justice,
"Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine. . . . Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other."
Noah Webster, author of the first American Speller and the first Dictionary stated,
"The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. . . All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."
Ha Ha ... Mpops here ,....and an left wing agenda to spit it out on ...lets see how right you are , .....
Robert Winthrop, Speaker of the U. S. House,
"Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet."
George Washington, General of the Revolutionary Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, First President of the United States of America, Father of our nation,
"Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society."
Benjamin Franklin, Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"[O]nly a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
"Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet."
George Washington, General of the Revolutionary Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, First President of the United States of America, Father of our nation,
"Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society."
Benjamin Franklin, Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"[O]nly a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
April 10, 1606 – The Charter for the Virginia Colony read in part:
“To the glory of His divine Majesty, in propagating of the Christian religion to such people as yet live in ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God.”
November 3, 1620 – King James I grants the Charter of the Plymouth council.
“In the hope thereby to advance the enlargement of the Christian religion, to the glory of God Almighty.”
November 11, 1620 – The Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact aboard the Mayflower, in Plymouth harbor.
“For the glory of God and advancement of ye Christian faith … doe by these presents solemnly & mutually in ye presence of God and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick.”
March 4, 1629 – The first Charter of Massachusetts read in part:
“For the directing, ruling, and disposeing of all other Matters and Thinges, whereby our said People may be soe religiously, peaceablie, and civilly governed, as their good life and orderlie Conversacon, maie wynn and incite the Natives of the Country to the Knowledg and Obedience of the onlie true God and Savior of Mankinde, and the Christian Fayth, which in our Royall Intencon, and The Adventurers free profession, is the principall Ende of the Plantacion..”
January 14, 1638 – The towns of Hartford, Weathersfield and Windsor adopt the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.
“To mayntayne and presearve the liberty and purity of the Gospell of our Lord Jesus, which we now professe…”
August 4, 1639 – The governing body of New Hampshire is established.
“Considering with ourselves the holy will of God and our own necessity, that we should not live without wholesome laws and civil government among us, of which we are altogether destitute, do, in the name of Christ and in the sight of God, combine ourselves together to erect and set up among us such government as shall be, to our best discerning, agreeable to the will of God…”
September 26, 1642 – The rules and precepts that were to govern Harvard were set up.
“Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternall life, John 17:3 and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and Learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdome, Let every one seriously set himselfe by prayer in secret to seeke it of him Prov. 2.3.”
Harvard College was founded on Christi Gloriam and later dedicated Christo et Ecclesiae. The founders of Harvard believed that “all knowledge without Christ was vain.”
The charter of Yale University clearly expressed the purpose for which the school was founded: “Whereas several well disposed and Publick spirited Persons of their sincere Regard to & zeal for upholding & propagating of the Christian Protestant Religion … youth may be instructed in the Arts & Sciences who through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church & Civil State.”
"In addition to Harvard and Yale, 106 out of the first 108 schools in America were founded on the Christian faith."
“To the glory of His divine Majesty, in propagating of the Christian religion to such people as yet live in ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God.”
November 3, 1620 – King James I grants the Charter of the Plymouth council.
“In the hope thereby to advance the enlargement of the Christian religion, to the glory of God Almighty.”
November 11, 1620 – The Pilgrims sign the Mayflower Compact aboard the Mayflower, in Plymouth harbor.
“For the glory of God and advancement of ye Christian faith … doe by these presents solemnly & mutually in ye presence of God and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick.”
March 4, 1629 – The first Charter of Massachusetts read in part:
“For the directing, ruling, and disposeing of all other Matters and Thinges, whereby our said People may be soe religiously, peaceablie, and civilly governed, as their good life and orderlie Conversacon, maie wynn and incite the Natives of the Country to the Knowledg and Obedience of the onlie true God and Savior of Mankinde, and the Christian Fayth, which in our Royall Intencon, and The Adventurers free profession, is the principall Ende of the Plantacion..”
January 14, 1638 – The towns of Hartford, Weathersfield and Windsor adopt the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut.
“To mayntayne and presearve the liberty and purity of the Gospell of our Lord Jesus, which we now professe…”
August 4, 1639 – The governing body of New Hampshire is established.
“Considering with ourselves the holy will of God and our own necessity, that we should not live without wholesome laws and civil government among us, of which we are altogether destitute, do, in the name of Christ and in the sight of God, combine ourselves together to erect and set up among us such government as shall be, to our best discerning, agreeable to the will of God…”
September 26, 1642 – The rules and precepts that were to govern Harvard were set up.
“Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternall life, John 17:3 and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and Learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdome, Let every one seriously set himselfe by prayer in secret to seeke it of him Prov. 2.3.”
Harvard College was founded on Christi Gloriam and later dedicated Christo et Ecclesiae. The founders of Harvard believed that “all knowledge without Christ was vain.”
The charter of Yale University clearly expressed the purpose for which the school was founded: “Whereas several well disposed and Publick spirited Persons of their sincere Regard to & zeal for upholding & propagating of the Christian Protestant Religion … youth may be instructed in the Arts & Sciences who through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church & Civil State.”
"In addition to Harvard and Yale, 106 out of the first 108 schools in America were founded on the Christian faith."
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