We should begin by setting conscience free. When all men of all religions ... shall enjoy equal liberty, property, and an equal chance for honors and power ... we may expect that improvements will be made in the human character and the state of society.
- John Adams, letter to Dr. Price, April 8, 1785
As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?
- John Adams, letter to FA Van der Kamp, December 27, 1816
I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved -- the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!
- John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson
2006-12-14 11:16:25 · 10 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The everyday Christian. -- If the Christian dogmas of a revengeful God, universal sinfulness, election by divine grace and the danger of eternal damnation were true, it would be a sign of weak-mindedness and lack of character not to become a priest, apostle or hermit and, in fear and trembling, to work solely on one's own salvation; it would be senseless to lose sight of ones eternal advantage for the sake of temporal comfort. If we may assume that these things are at any rate believed true, then the everyday Christian cuts a miserable figure; he is a man who really cannot count to three, and who precisely on account of his spiritual imbecility does not deserve to be punished so harshly as Christianity promises to punish him.
from Nietzsche's Human, all too Human, s.116, R.J. Hollingdale transl
2006-12-14 11:28:44 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like he was a true Christian who didn't like what mankind has done to Christianity. And that first quote was a bit too optimistic.
2006-12-14 11:25:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another one who would rather blame Jesus for the faults of man. There are pleanty of people from every religion or non-religion who make life misserable for others. It's called being a d*ck
2006-12-14 11:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As a Christian myself, I kind of agree with him....especially the second quote!
Christianity is, indeed, a revelation....but how in the heck did so much garbage get mixed in???????
2006-12-14 11:20:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considering what happened in Europe and religion at the time, its no wonder he felt the way he did.
2006-12-14 11:23:12 · answer #5 · answered by hcl404 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I very highly disagree with nearly all those statements. Was he a Christian or not?
2006-12-14 11:28:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They all wanted freedom from religious belief and persecution, that's why they drafted the Declaration of Independence.
2006-12-14 11:23:14 · answer #7 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
confident. faith is guy attaining for God - and failing. Spirituality is God attaining for guy - yet he interprets it as faith. enable's no longer ignore, Christianity is a faith, too.
2016-10-05 08:03:57 · answer #8 · answered by regula 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess he didn't hold Christianity in very high regard.
2006-12-14 11:18:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
he obviously neverheard of Islam
2006-12-14 11:20:17 · answer #10 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋