Posted on 02/06/2008 6:19:32 PM PST by klimeckg
Thomas Paine and the Age of Reason
Thomas Paine is sometimes grouped with the Founding Fathers. Your daily newspaper might reinforce this view with editorials like this:
Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Paine and most of our other patriarchs were at best deists, believing in the unmoved mover of Aristotle, but not the God of the Old and New Testaments.[1]
It would be difficult to name a single one of the Founding Fathers who approved of Paine's Age of Reason, his famous tract attacking religion in general and evangelical Christianity in particular. Even less-than-evangelicals like Benjamin Franklin and the "Unitarians" all denounced Paine's book.
Before Paine published his Age of Reason, he sent a manuscript copy to Benjamin Franklin, seeking his thoughts. Notice Franklin's strong and succinct reply, and keep in mind that those on all sides of the religion question would concede Franklin to be one of the least religious Founders:
I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion that . . . the consequence of printing this piece will be a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits into the wind, spits in his own face. But were you to succeed, do you imagine any good would be done by it? . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at members.aol.com ...
We were and remain a people of strong religious faith; even the Deists and Unitarians didn’t like their most cherished beliefs in the goodness of the author of the Universe and the idea of Divine providence attacked.
No. And Mormonism is not the same as Deism. I’m a Deist, not a Mormon and I know the difference - I don’t need to wear magic underwear!
Mormonism is not responsible for Romney's problems.
For me it's his on-again-off-again positions on abortion, guns, global warming, taxes, Reagan years, gay rights, etc.
I don't think there one position he has not changed since he decided to run for president and become a conservative.
They weren’t all deists...the whole discussion starts out with a faulty premise.
George Washington most especially was not a “deist.”
No, the fact that I get called a bigot for questioning him is keeping me from voting for him.
Only two or three were Deists. Nice try but no cookie
I am dispirited.
You are right, of course. But that sort of knowledge is down way too deep for most voters to care about (especially if they went through public schools and have not been obsessed for compensating for that intellectually fatal flaw, as I).
And of those who were Deists, many regularly attended a church of traditional denomination.
People complain about his changed positions. But now that it’s all but over can we be honest? Almost all of the candidates have changed or at the very least modified their positions over time. Damn... so have I but I digress. From the many anti-Romney things I’ve read on this site, I think some might have voted against him because of his religion but I think a greater number voted against him because 1) he is rich and 2) he’s a damn fast-talkin’ Yankee. ;-)
why is being Mormon worse than being Catholic
I, a born again christian, am curious if many people are not looking at him for this one reason. Because I am torn. I haven’t a clue what to do. I dislike Huckabee, especially after today when he should have clearly announced he can’t win. Huckabee is being paid off with promises from McCain. And I can’t seem to get behind McCain, becuase he is a liar and a an isle reacher! I want someone who will show the hand to the Demorats! What to do?
Mormonism is most definately Mitt’s problem in the South. If you are a Republican and you can’t get the South behind you, you are toast.
PS. I am Bible believing Christian who voted for Mitt. but believe me it’s a BIG problem for him .
Pure drek.
Most of the Founding Fathers associated themselves with Christian denominations. Only a handful were deists.
Some lies never become true regardless of the number of times they are repeated.
beep, for later.
Good try-YOU LISTEN YOU DECIDE take ya ten minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0rcAByKUFM&NR=1
Some say Huckabee is staying in the race to block Romney and that Huckabee hates Mormons.
It’s not
Romney does not wear his religion on his sleeve, as does Huckabee. His religion has never been an issue in his public life. It’s only an issue now because Huckabee and certain of his followers have made it an issue in their own minds.
Nope, his being a sleazy, lying liberal who killed the MA GOP sealed the deal for me.
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