Religious freedom- in the Constitution – we have a God given right to
religious freedom – the founders came out of Europe - the Age of
Enlightenment which is not of Christian thought so their thinking was not like
you would think. They meant that religious freedom means that you can pray to
what ever god you want. The Bible however does not give you freedom of thought –
every thought is to be captive to Jesus Christ.
Thomas Paine – wrote “Common Sense” – brought about the Declaration of
Independence – at this point he was not an American citizen but an Englishman.
Ben Franklin met him in England, like his writing and had him come to America.
Once the revolution was over then he published his true thoughts on religious
freedom in a pamphlet - “Age of Reason” - in which he states: “When I see
though out the greater part of this book (the Bible) scarcely anything but a
history of grossest vices and a collection of the most paltry and contemptible
tales I can not dishonor my Creator by calling His name. – “The Age of Reason “
the Truth Seeker comp. 1898 page 21. He believed in god but not the God of the
Bible. Also states: “ it is the fable of Jesus Christ, as told in the New
Testament, and the wild and visionary doctrine raised there on, against which I
contend. The story, taking it as told, is blasphemously obscene. The obscenity
is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. What is it the Testament teaches us? To
believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be
married and the belief of this debauchery is called faith.” He would denounce
all the spiritual things of the Bible, virgin birth, resurrection of Jesus
Christ. If you believe in reason then something that does not seen reasonable to
human reasoning the it should be rejected. Can a woman get pregnant with out
being with a man? In human reasoning no she can not so therefore the birth of
Jesus Christ could not have been a virgin birth. Thomas Paine also wrote: “I do
not believe in the creed professed by any church that I know of. My own mind is
my own church. He wrote about the Bible- “ It would be more consistent that we
called it the word of a demon, that the word of God.
John Adams – wrote “When philosophical reason is clear and certain by
intuition or necessary induction no subsequent revelation supported by
prophecies or miracles supersede it.” – Source John Adams as cited in “American
Philosophy an Encyclopedia” – by John Lachs and Robert B. Talisse page
164. Also wrote “These are what are called revolution principles. They are
principles of Aristotle and Plato.... the principles of nature and eternal
reason. – John Adams – “Political Essays” pg. 12. In a letter to Thomas
Jefferson: “The general principles, on which the fathers achieved independence,
were the general principles of Christianity...... I favor of these general
principles in Philosophy, Religion and government, I could fill sheets of
quotations from Rousseau and Voltaire.” John Adams in letter to Tomas Jefferson,
June 28, 1813. ( Rousseau and Voltaire were well known Enlightenment thinkers
who hated Christianity. Voltaire wanted an end to Christianity and
wrote:”Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion
that has ever infected the world.” Source – Voltaire in the Encyclopedia of
Ethics – Vol. 3 page 1771. Also wrote “It took twelve ignorant fishermen to
establish Christianity. I will show the world how one Frenchman can destroy it.”
Source – Voltaire cited in “Thy Kingdom Come, Part II – online edition chap.
59.)
Thomas Jefferson – In a letter to Gen. Alexander Smith in 1825 on the book
of Revelation – “It is between 50 and 60 years since I read it and then
considered it as merely the ravings of a maniac no more worth nor capable of
explanation than the incoherence's of our own nightly dreams” – he did not
repent of this view. Also wrote: “The greatest of all the Reformers of the
depraved religion of his own country was Jesus of Nazareth. Abstracting what is
really his from the rubbish in which it is buried, easily distinguished by its
luster from the dross of his biographer, and as separable as the diamond from
the dung hill. – Letter to William Short, Oct. 31,1819. He was talking about his
book (now called The Jefferson Bible) “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
Extracted texturally from the Gospels. He denounces the old and new testaments –
concerning the old testament – “Where get we the ten commandments? The
book indeed gives them to us verbatim but where did it get them? For itself
tells us they were written by the finger of God on tables of stone which were
destroyed by Moses. But the whole history of these books is go defective
and doubtful, that it seems vain to attempt minute inquiry into it and such
tricks have been played with their texts, and with the other books relating to
them. That we have a right from that cause to entertain much doubt what parts of
them are genuine.” Letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814. In the same letter –
“In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded
from an extraordinary man and that other parts are the fabric of very inferior
minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick diamonds from dung
hills.”
Ben Franklin – was a freemason and only missed a handful of lodge meetings
in his life time. He said “Original sin was as ridiculous as imputed
righteousness.” Masons believe that it is their good works (deeds) that are
going to get them into heaven. Their apron that they wear, and are buried in,
covers their sins by their good deeds. (The apron is made of sheepskin.) His
view of Jesus Christ: “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom your
particularly desire.... I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he
left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see..... but I
apprehend it has received various corrupt changes, and I have, with most
of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity.... it is a
question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studies it.... and I think it
needless to busy myself with ti now, when I expect soon an opportunity of
knowing the Truth with less trouble.” This was written at the point he believed
he is about to die.
George Washington – Would not partake in communion – he would walk out of
church before communion was given. When rebuked by his pastor Washington never
again went to church on Communion Sundays. Was a moral man. Bishop White – 20
years pastor to George Washington – when asked about George Washington’s faith –
“ I do not believe that any degree of recollection will bring to my mind any
fact which would prove that General Washington to have been a believer in the
Christian revelation..... further than as may be hoped from his constant
attendance upon Christian worship in connection with the general reserve of his
character. His behavior in church was always serious and attentive but as
your letter seems to intend on inquiry on the point of kneeling during the
service. I owe it to the truth to declare that I never saw him in the said
attitude. Although I was always often in company with this great man, and had
the honor of dining often at his table I never heard anything from him which
could manifest his opinions on the subject of religion. – Letter to Rev. Parker,
November 28, 1832. No evidence of what George Washington believed – but much to
suggest he did not. In Thomas Jefferson’s diary – February 1 – Dr. Rush
tells me that he had it from Asa Green that when the clergy addressed Gen.
Washington on his departure from the government it was observed in their
consultation that he had never said a word in public which showed a belief in
the Christian religion and they thought they should pen their address as to
force him at length to declare publicly whether he was a Christian or not. They
did so. However, he observed, the old fox was too cunning for them. He
answered every article in their address particularly except that which he passed
over without notice. I know that Governor Morris has often told me that Gen.
Washington believed no more in the system (Christianity) than he did. – The
writings of Thomas Jefferson Vol. 1 p. 284
The
Hidden Faith of Our Founding Fathers, DVD by Chris Pinto first few
minutes
Hidden Faith, Washington
Hidden Faith - full video (3 hours in length)