Our Founding Fathers!

[glohworm]

OK, so I'm trying to stir the pot, alright?! But I happen to think that most of our founding fathers didn't believe in the Almighty! Jefferson and Franklin, et. el., were men of science and hence, questioned the dicotomy between "faith & fact"! We all know that these men were intellectual giants and that they questioned everything. Why not have the deep-seeded curiosity to question whether or not there's a God?! Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but neither of these two incredible men ever really discourced on the existence of God! I think they had better things to do with their lives.

Think about it. These men were busy building a nation. Nowhere in their writings are they talking about, "God will provide"! I don't mean to offend anyone here but I truly feel these great men were above our everyday trappings! They were extraordinery!!!

Dave, I wish to add two books which were helpful to me in my earlier years.

1) Androcles and the Lion. I think we all know about the thorn in the Lion's paw and how the lion didn't eat Androcles. Bernard Shaw's tale goes much deeper than this. It's about one's faith! Do you have the will and the faith to go into the lion's den? It's a wonderful book for believers and non-believers alike!

2) Why I Am not a Christian; by Bertrand Russell, one of the intellectual giants of the 19th & 20th centuries!

[GohanSSJ]

Well i dont believe in god, simply because there is nothing to be found in the bible about dinosaurs, and everything thats in the bible is no proof of.
I believe in facts and not something that there is totally no evidence off, if you ask my oppinion about the bible i can just say a very good written book, people can learn alot from it but thats it.

Ofcourse no offence to people who do believe in god.

[glohworm]

GohanSSJ,

Thanks so much for having the courage of your convictions on this forum! All I can say is "Get Ready"! for some real tough dudes coming your way, (and mine). Hey, we're tough, we can take the abuse!

[Germ]

Both Jefferson and Franklin believed in God and there are several surviving quoutes from both men. There were no atheists among our Founding Fathers.

Here are a couple of quick quotes for you:

"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."

Quoted from Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia



You desire to know something of my religion. It is the first time I have been questioned upon it. But I cannot take your curiosity amiss, and shall endeavor in a few words to gratify it. Here is my creed. I believe in one God, the creator of the universe. That he governs by his providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.

Quoted from a letter written by Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles March 9, 1790



I'm not going to "abuse" anyone, but I happen to think you are both wrong.

[OuTpaTienT]

Ah! LOL. Someone took the bait.

Anyways, here's some more great reading material:

Humanistic Adductions
Bertrand Russell, A Free Man's Worship
Words of Wisdom
Collected Quotes
Meat <--- Great short story!

I got those links from this guy's site: Chuck Williamson's Home Page