Gawain of Orkeny
07-05-2005, 06:32
Just what was their position or beliefs on this matter. Many claim they were diest while others post quotes by them showing them to be anti christain. I thought we could examine a few and see what everyone thinks. Lets start with Jeffersona one they claim is a diest.
I have examined all the known superstitions of the Word, 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 ...
How does that square with this quote also by him
“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.”
Heres another
The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes; fools and hypocrites. To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical.
Yet he says
"I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus."
Yet people claim hes a diest. ~:confused:
More
Accustom a people to believe that priests and clergy can forgive sins ... and you will have sins in abundance. I would not dare to dishonor my Creator's name by [attaching] it to this filthy book [the Bible].
“ The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.”
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.
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” (excerpts are inscribed on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial in the nations capital) [Source: Merrill . D. Peterson, ed., Jefferson Writings, (New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984), Vol. IV, p. 289. From Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, 1781.]
Is it any wonder people get confused. I take it that Jefferson like me was against organized religion though he still believed that Jesus was lord. However he held church services the whole time he was president in the halls of congress as did Madison.
Heres the links to both the pro and con sides of these quotes including many from the other founding fathers,
PRO (http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm)
CON (http://www.anotherperspective.org/advoc550.html)
I have examined all the known superstitions of the Word, 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 ...
How does that square with this quote also by him
“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.”
Heres another
The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes; fools and hypocrites. To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical.
Yet he says
"I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus."
Yet people claim hes a diest. ~:confused:
More
Accustom a people to believe that priests and clergy can forgive sins ... and you will have sins in abundance. I would not dare to dishonor my Creator's name by [attaching] it to this filthy book [the Bible].
“ The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.”
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.
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” (excerpts are inscribed on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial in the nations capital) [Source: Merrill . D. Peterson, ed., Jefferson Writings, (New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984), Vol. IV, p. 289. From Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, 1781.]
Is it any wonder people get confused. I take it that Jefferson like me was against organized religion though he still believed that Jesus was lord. However he held church services the whole time he was president in the halls of congress as did Madison.
Heres the links to both the pro and con sides of these quotes including many from the other founding fathers,
PRO (http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm)
CON (http://www.anotherperspective.org/advoc550.html)