quote:

Except that we're a democratic republic.

What is a democratic republic, and how does it differ from a regular republic?

quote:

I do not thinkt that they were Deists. I've heard that, and I don't know if I trust it. Everything I've read, it seems to me that they are Christians, but fed up with the state of Christianity.

stupid things to say in front of me.

Franklin's Comments on religion

"Relevation had indeed no weight with me"
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason"
"Lighthouses are more useful than churches"

John Adams (a particularly fun one)

"The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." from a treaty with Tripoli, that was passed UNANIMOUSLY by the Senate.

"Can a free government possibly exist with the Roman Catholic Religion?"


Thomas Paine

"Priests and conjurors are of the same trade"

"One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests"

"The age of ignorance commenced with the christian system"

Ethen Allen

"In those parts of the world where learning and science has prevailed, miracles have ceased; But in those parts of it as are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue.

and the list continues to Thomas Jefferson, Washington, and Partick Henry

quote:

Originally posted by Kharybdis:

quote:

Even if that is so, the US is still not a Christian state. However, as a glitch of democracy, if there are mostly Christians in the US, we will end up following Christian values. That's a price we have to pay for being a democratic nation.

Good thing we're a republic, then, eh?

Except that we're a democratic republic.

quote:

Even if that is so, the US is still not a Christian state. However, as a glitch of democracy, if there are mostly Christians in the US, we will end up following Christian values. That's a price we have to pay for being a democratic nation.

Good thing we're a republic, then, eh?

quote:

Originally posted by DrStrangelove:
Ah good ol' Tripoli.

What's more convincing is simply reading the writings of Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, and others. They're scathingly critical of Christianity, and many were strong Deists. A nation based on reason, liberty, and legal equality.

I think it's time for another revolution.

I do not thinkt that they were Deists. I've heard that, and I don't know if I trust it. Everything I've read, it seems to me that they are Christians, but fed up with the state of Christianity.

Even if that is so, the US is still not a Christian state. However, as a glitch of democracy, if there are mostly Christians in the US, we will end up following Christian values. That's a price we have to pay for being a democratic nation.

quote:

So if Bush ever says God talked to him...well he's gotta go.

Oh, he didn't, did he...?

'Cause you know, there are many effective schizophrenia treatements...

Ah good ol' Tripoli.

What's more convincing is simply reading the writings of Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, and others. They're scathingly critical of Christianity, and many were strong Deists. A nation based on reason, liberty, and legal equality.

I think it's time for another revolution.

Thank you for starting this topic. It had occured to me to do so, but I didn't bother (I also thought of putting it in Your Say In Government)

But I'm glad there's a place for me to put quotes like this:
A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, 1787–88:
“The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature; and if men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves of artifice, imposture, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. … It will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service [forming the U.S. government] had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of Heaven, more than those at work upon ships or houses, or laboring in merchandise or agriculture; it will forever be acknowledged that these governments were contrived merely by the use of reason and the senses. …Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery… are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind”

So if Bush ever says God talked to him...well he's gotta go.

Beautiful! Thank you, clpo.