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Category: Founding Fathers

Virginia Ratifying Convention, James Madison

Virginia Ratifying Convention, James Madison

12 June 1788  This statement on the “multiplicity of sects” summarizes the Madisonian view of religious liberty The honorable member has introduced the subject of religion. Religion is not guarded–there is no bill of rights declaring that religion should be secure. Is a bill of rights a security for religion? Would the bill of rights, in this state, exempt the people from paying for the support of one particular sect, if such sect were exclusively established by law? If there…

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James Madison to Robert Walsh, March 2, 1819

James Madison to Robert Walsh, March 2, 1819

James Madison March 2, 1819 Montpellier Mar 2. 1819 This remarkable excerpt shows that Madison believes the Bill of Rights has succeeded — but the proof is not that religious minorities are less persecuted but rather that the quality and quantity of religion has increased dramatically. That there has been an increase of religious instruction since the revolution can admit of no question. The English Church was originally the established religion: the character of the clergy that above described. Of…

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John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, February–3 March 1814

John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, February–3 March 1814

John Adams February 1814 Quincy Dear Sir I was nibbing my pen and brushing my Faculties, to write a polite Letter of Thanks to MrCounsellor Barton for his valuable Memoirs of Dr Rittenhouse though I could not account for his Sending it to me; when I received your favour of Jan. 24th. I now most cordially indorse my Thanks over to you. The Book is in the modern American Style, an able imitation of Marshalls Washington, though far more entertaining and…

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Thomas Jefferson Autobiography (portion on religious freedom)

Thomas Jefferson Autobiography (portion on religious freedom)

Thomas Jefferson 1821 The bill for establishing religious freedom, the principles of which had, to a certain degree, been enacted before, I had drawn in all the latitude of reason and right. It still met with opposition; but, with some mutilations in the preamble, it was finally passed; and a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of…

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Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, February 3, 1821

Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, February 3, 1821

John Adams February 3, 1821 John Adams antagonism to Catholicism reappeared in old age: “I have long been decided in opinion that a free government and the Roman Catholick religion can never exist together in any nation or Country” Dear Sir I have just read a sketch of the life of Swedenborg, and a larger work in two huge volumes of Memoirs of John Westley* by Southery, and your kind letter of January 22d came to hand in the nick…

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Liberating the Founders

Liberating the Founders

TRANSCRIPT October 30, 2008 KRISTA TIPPETT, HOST: I’m Krista Tippett. Today, “Liberating the Founders.” Americans remain divided about how much religion they want in their political life. As we elect a new president, we return to an evocative, relevant conversation from earlier this year with journalist Steven Waldman. From his unusual study of the American founders, he understands why 21st-century struggles over religion in the public square spur passionate disagreement and entanglement with politics at its most impure. MR. STEVE…

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The Evangelical Founding Fathers

The Evangelical Founding Fathers

Remember the concerns of those to whom Jefferson wrote on the separation of church and state First published in Christianity Today, March 25, 2008 By Steven Waldman Much attention has been paid to the idea that evangelical Christians are, politically, in motion. Only 29 percent of “born-again” Christians now say they support Republicans, compared to 62 percent in 2004, according to Barna Research. Among those who participated in the Republican primaries, many went for John McCain, who once called certain…

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Thomas Jefferson’s Draft Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson’s Draft Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson Jefferson’s draft Included a passage blaming the King of England for the slave trade. To heighten the critique, he points out that this heinous act Is perpetrated by the “Christian king.” When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the equal and independent station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s…

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The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom

Thomas Jefferson January 1, 1786 Thomas Jefferson would put the passage of this law as one of his greatest accomplishments. Although Jefferson wrote the measure, it was James Madison who ushered it through the Virginia legislature. Jefferson argued that the Lord’s way is to allow humans to find their way to Him, not through revelation or blind faith but through reason: The “holy author of our religion, who being lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate…

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Jefferson’s Syllabus of an Estimate of the Merit of the Doctrines of Jesus

Jefferson’s Syllabus of an Estimate of the Merit of the Doctrines of Jesus

Thomas Jefferson May 21, 1803 Before he wrote the Jefferson Bible, Jefferson had tried to get others to create a more honest depiction of the true merits of Jesus. He crafted this syllabus ostensibly as a guide for someone else who might tackle the project. In the end, he did the Philosophy of Jesus and, later, the Life and Morals of Jesus, himelf. Here is the cover note he sent to Benjamin Rush and and an earlier note on the…

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