Yes Paine put the words to the beliefs of the Founding Fathers although some of them did hold a nominal Christianity. One of my heroes!!
"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debauches, the cruel and tortuous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind; and for my part, I sincerely detest it, as I detest everything that is cruel."
The clear TREATY statements during the Administration of George Washington state outright that America was NOT founded as a Christian Nation--so it requires no debate! Only dullards and fanatics are capable of evading such direct and obvious proof--and they really do not count in educated company...
Although it is clear to anyone (excepting the deluded and the dishonest) that America was not founded as a Christian Nation, it might be inaccurate to say it was founded as a deistic nation, as well. More on point is the fact that it was founded on naturalistic ideals of moral rights and freedoms-and these are independent of all religions! The Declaration says all the opposite of things found in the bible. No commandments about not boiling your goat in milk! No threats to smear dung or fill nostrils with quail! No encouragement of rape or genocide or racism! No prohibitions against other gods--other religions!!
Long live the secular commitment to human rights and freedoms! |
