John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence:
"He is the best friend to American liberty, who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind. Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not [do not hesitate] to call him an enemy of his country."
2006-10-16 13:18:43 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
yep
2006-10-16 13:28:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Someone who doesn't not believe in God isn't necessarily an avowed enemy of God. You can be agnostic or an atheist and still be a moral person.
You are misreading the quote. Witherspoon was speaking on people who were immoral.
So, who's God are we talking about anyway?
The constitution protects many freedoms-- freedom of religion and from religion are included.
2006-10-16 20:22:23 · answer #2 · answered by dapixelator 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
"In every country and every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own. It is easier to acquire wealth and power by this combination than by deserving them, and to effect this, they have perverted the purest religion ever preached to man into mystery and jargon, unintelligible to all mankind, and therefore the safer for their purposes."
-Thomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence
I would say the politicians that align themselves too closely with God are the people to worry about.
2006-10-16 20:28:29 · answer #3 · answered by imnogeniusbutt 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I prefer Jefferson. And no, no, no. The English Civil War, the beheading of Charles the 1st, ( or was it the IInd ? ), the Glorious Revolution of 1688, our Revolutionary War were done in the name of thawrting the over reach of political power fused with religion.
We don't seem to learn much from history.
2006-10-16 20:25:32 · answer #4 · answered by planksheer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
JW was speaking his own mind. That's what makes a horse race. You might read some of what the Spanish Inquisition was about as well as the mechanics of it.
2006-10-16 20:27:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
1. Separation of church and state;
2. If you don't believe in him, how it can it be an enemy?
Come on -- can't we all just get along?
2006-10-16 20:26:16 · answer #6 · answered by Chrissy: The Angry Typer a/k/a Mood Mole 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People who work against a country are enemies of it.
People who don't believe in God's salvation are sinners.
People who work against God's salvation or against God's people are enemies of God.
2006-10-16 20:31:47 · answer #7 · answered by dickson 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This isn't a theocracy, you don't get to dole out citizenship based on superstition.
2006-10-16 20:34:37 · answer #8 · answered by answer faerie, V.T., A. M. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Say what? This is AMERICA, where we all have freedom of choice in our beliefs. If you don't like it, move to a country that only allows your beliefs!!!!!!!.
2006-10-16 20:31:23 · answer #9 · answered by greg j. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do we have separation of church and state? YES!
Do we have freedom of religion? YES!
Answer to your question? NO!
2006-10-16 20:26:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, we have this thing here that we like to call FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
2006-10-16 20:24:42 · answer #11 · answered by scott m 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋