Chicora Foundation, Inc., PO Box 8664,
Columbia, SC, USA, 29202, 803-787-6910
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Explore what some of the founding fathers had to say about religious persecution and, especially, religious freedom: I have examined all the
known superstitions of the World, and I do not find in our particular
superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded
on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since
the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and
imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the
world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over
the world . . . . The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an
engine for enslaving mankind . . . to filch wealth and power to themselves.
[They], in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ.
It does me no injury for
my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God.
Question with boldness
even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of
the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.
I do not believe in the
creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church,
by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any church that I know
of. My own mind is my own church.
My country is the world,
and my religion is to do good.
Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law. Thomas Paine
Of all the
animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by
difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and
distressing, and ought most to be deprecated. I was in hopes that the
enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least
have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never
again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the
peace of society.
. . . the path of
true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction.
If they are good
workmen, they may be from Asia, Africa or Europe; they may be Mahometans
[Muslims, followers of the Prophet Mohammed], Jews, Christians of any sect, or
they may be Atheists....
. . . I beg you be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution. George Washington, to United Baptists Churches of Virginia, May, 1789
All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean [conduct] themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support. George Washington
When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one. Benjamin Franklin These quote suggest that many of our Founding Fathers were skeptical of organized religion and felt there was no place in our secular government for any specific religion. Here are a couple of web sites that will provide more information: |
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