They basically eliminated everything supernatural and superstitious from religion, studied great ethical philosophies from around the world and listened to their consciences. The Supreme Being they recognized was bigger and better than Bibles, Korans, Vedas, Avestas, Popol Vuhs or whatever.
Did it allow them to be highly rational and, therefore, visionary in constructing a country?
2007-03-21 03:06:03 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I suspect many of the "Deists" were atheists, at heart. It was just political suicide (or literal suicide) to admit such at that time.
It is amazing that they developed such a great concept as "separation of church and state", no matter how weakly implemented in the Constitution.
I think a greater driver for separation of church and state was the various state's segregations and intolerances based on religion. It is easy to see how people creating a new government would want no part of that. Religions really showed their true colors in the period before and people realized the dangers of mixing religion and government.
Unfortunately, like most dangers given enough time, people forget. These days, religion and government are mixing in ways that would make the founding fathers roll in their graves.
It is truly sad.
2007-03-21 03:08:05 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think you are on to something here. Some Deists became atheists. Thomas Jefferson evidently did, and he was accused of being one. He told his nephew in a letter to study the Bible critically and objectively like any other book and that after such a study one might well conclude that there is no god. Jefferson would not disagree with this. He wrote his own Bible with the supernatural nonsense removed. Just think what the USA would be if the influential Founding Fathers had not rejected superstition. It certainly helps one immensely to be rational if he rejects nonsense.
2007-03-21 03:17:14 · answer #2 · answered by miyuki & kyojin 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Whatever happened to the concept that All Lawyers (most Politicans are Lawyers, but the way) should be marched into the ocean.
Now, all of a sudden, Lawyers are great people!
Least you forget, it was the Christian Immigrants who survived harsh winters in 1610 and turned America into a PROFITABLE venture with crops and exports that made Boston and Manhattan big ports of entry.
Once they finished doing all the work, the Britsh upper crust came here and took it all over.
Finally, remember there was a LARGE British Loyalist faction in America who opposed a country.
Remember the Christians came here to get away from all those people who were persecuting them and oppressing them.
True, indeed. The founding fathers were a bunch of English College educated upper class snobs sent here to take care of the affairs of the King, who decided it might be a far more lucrative venture to go it alone and ace the King out of the profits.
Those, then, are your founding fathers.
A bunch of cut throat lawyers, apponined politicans and mercantilist who decided they had enough of the Feudal system.
The English, by the way, considered them Traitors and Terrorists.
Once upon a time a bunch of Americans dressed up as Indians put a car bomb next to an East India traiding ship and sunk all of it's unpaid for tea.
That's America's founding fathers as seen through the eyes of the Bristish. A bunch of thugs and hoods destroying private property.
2007-03-21 03:16:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Clearly something contributed to their beautifully rational and visionary thinking at the time. There's no way fundies could have or would have come up with the great country they gave us. Your point is excellent and I wish that more people recognized the reality of the "religious" beliefs of our Founding Fathers instead of pretending they were some sort of fundies.
2007-03-21 03:14:17 · answer #4 · answered by Craig L 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the military exhaustion of the Old World empires after hundreds of years of religious warfare had more to do with it.
The Reformation and the Inquisition had destroyed enough power both Ecclesiastical and Temporal that there was nobody left to stop the Founding Fathers from doing as they pleased.
They had also all had first hand experience and recent history of the religious wars to guide them.
2007-03-21 03:13:55 · answer #5 · answered by U-98 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where are you getting your information about what they thought of the "Supreme Being?" George Washington, for example, attended church regularly, along with his wife. There are many letters from the minister of his church available in histories of the time, in libraries, even online.
So please supply some links to letters, etc. where they discuss their thoughts about "Bibles, Korans, Vedas, Avestas, Popul Vuhs or whatever." I, for one, would love to read them.
2007-03-21 03:15:06 · answer #6 · answered by cmw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that's a very fair conclusion. The three best things they had going for them were that they were well educated, had a good understanding of history, and were inspired by Enlightenment philosophy.
2007-03-21 03:13:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
removing everything supernatural and superstitious from religion leaves you with an empty shell.
2007-03-21 03:12:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It helped a lot.
2007-03-21 03:10:12 · answer #9 · answered by Alex 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Reason was the reason.
2007-03-21 03:21:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋