1. "There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, of Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral isssue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D. Just who do they thin they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism."
2. "Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man."
3. "During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of christianity been on trial. What has been it fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."
4. "Lighthouses are more useful than churches."
5."This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it."
6. "Shake off all the fears of servile prejudice, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
7. When asked by the journalist Robert Sherman whether he recognized the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists, this individual replied: "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
Now here is the answers:
1. Barry Goldwater - Congressional record 16 Sept 1981
2. Thomas Jefferson
3. James Madison
4. Benjamin Franklin
5. John Adams
2 through 5 are quoted in Christopher Hitchens biography Thomas Jefferson: Author of America
6. Thomas Jefferson - in a letter to his nephew Peter Carr 1787
7. George H W Bush - Free Inquiry 8:4 fall 1988, p 16 and interview with journalist Robert Sherman
No comments:
Post a Comment