And 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 Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors.
-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823
2006-11-24 08:38:06 · 12 answers · asked by Laptop Jesus V. 2.0 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was debating with someone a long time ago who was claiming that the Founding Fathers were all devout Christians. I gave her a bunch of quotes like that one (there are plenty others) and she said I was making them all up. :-P
I absolutely agree with the quote, though. There WILL come a time when the beliefs of Christianity will be put in the same category as all the other ancient beliefs we currently label as mythology. It won't happen for many generations, but it will happen.
2006-11-24 08:44:28 · answer #1 · answered by . 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Smart money says Evangelical Patric Henry had a word or two to say about that
What they said is important for several reaons one being to help discern the original intent of some laws and the original intent of the constitution
Most of the founding fathers would have been more theistic, Thomas Jefferson was of the EnDarklement ( sometimes wrongly called the Enlightenment) minorty I think Adams was pretty much part of the EnDarklement also
Even Jeffereson called for public prayer meetings and allowed state funds to support religious education and missions to Indians... quite the politicians eh.? use religious people even though you dont believe anything... well "Nature and Nature;s God" not a bad phrase...
2006-11-24 08:42:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
patrick henry. "Question with boldness even the existence of a god." jefferson "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." madison "I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my church. " thomas paine "As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." treaty of tripoli...
2016-03-29 07:47:45 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Myself and many others already see the claims of Christianity as the contemporary mythology that it is. Anyone who has studied the history of this religion can plainly see this very fact.
2006-11-24 08:49:51 · answer #4 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is the saddest statement- and do you know where Thomas Jefferson is now? He is not thinking that now that is for sure! But rather regretting it!
2006-11-24 08:43:56 · answer #5 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not really. Their opinions out God/Religion would matter just as little as anyone else's. Smart guys though.
2006-11-24 08:41:36 · answer #6 · answered by Presagio 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. -Matthew 10:32
2006-11-24 08:51:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Benjamen Franklin was and atheist.
Although he was not a founding father Abraham Lincoln was an Atheist as well.
2006-11-24 08:41:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Excellent quote--and an excellent argument for the seperation of church and state
2006-11-24 08:40:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
He was a man with opinions. I wonder if he's changed his mind?
2006-11-24 08:42:06 · answer #10 · answered by Odindmar 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋