Church/State Quotes (Jefferson/Aristotle)

[RedSock]

"The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and engrafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man."
--Thomas Jefferson

"...the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."
--from the Treaty of Tripoli, which was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate in 1797.

"A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side."
-- Aristotle

and

"The two most abundant things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity."
--Harlan Ellison

!!!

from
http://www.parallelpac.org

[Selwynn]

1. I'm not saying I agree with these quotes, but for honesty's sake:

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." ~ George Washington, from his prayerbook

"The general principles, on which the Fathers (the founders of America) achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite. . . And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects (denominations) were united. . ." John Adams, June 28, 1813, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not on the power of government. . . upon the capacity of each and every one of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." - James Madison

"The greatest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." ~ John Quincy Adams

There are quotes on both sides of the issue from founding fathers (well, for the most part). In the end, I'm happy that a wall of separation protects churches from the encroachment of the state, and the state from the encrouchment of the church. However, I am also honest about the fact that many of not most of the founding fathers were religious many of different varieties and it really wouldn't have crossed their mind much not to think about God in their daily political life.

[FDRrocks]

2. My favorite Jefferson quote

" I promised you a letter on Christianity, which I have not
forgotten. On the contrary, it is because I have reflected on it,
that I find much more time necessary for it than I can at present
dispose of. I have a view of the subject which ought to displease
neither the rational Christian nor Deists, and would reconcile many
to a character they have too hastily rejected. I do not know that it
would reconcile the _genus irritabile vatum_ who are all in arms
against me. Their hostility is on too interesting ground to be
softened. The delusion into which the X. Y. Z. plot shewed it
possible to push the people; the successful experiment made under the
prevalence of that delusion on the clause of the constitution, which,
while it secured the freedom of the press, covered also the freedom
of religion, had given to the clergy a very favorite hope of
obtaining an establishment of a particular form of Christianity thro'
the U. S.; and as every sect believes its own form the true one,
every one perhaps hoped for his own, but especially the Episcopalians
& Congregationalists. The returning good sense of our country
threatens abortion to their hopes, & they believe that any portion of
power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition to their schemes.
And they believe rightly; for I have sworn upon the altar of god,
eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
But this is all they have to fear from me: & enough too in their
opinion, & this is the cause of their printing lying pamphlets
against me, forging conversations for me with Mazzei, Bishop Madison,
&c., which are absolute falsehoods without a circumstance of truth to
rest on; falsehoods, too, of which I acquit Mazzei & Bishop Madison,
for they are men of truth."


http://lachlan.bluehaze.com.au/lit/jeff04.htm

[wryter2000]

3. Joel Barlow

I thought #2 was by Joel Barlow. I went to Joel Barlow HS in Redding, CT.