actually, you are wrong.
the founders were, as far as I know to a MAN...
all members of the lodge.
the masons, that is.
and they are open to ANY religious belief that acknowledged a higher power, and have always been...
that would include some of the religions you reject in your list.
and it has ever been that with the masons.
HOW do I know that?
I do.
You are not a mason I can only guess.
They would NOT agree to the exclusion of what you consider cultists.
Jefferson, did READ the bible... and rewrote it to his image and likeness.
Fundies don't agree or like it. but it is a fact, the founders WOULD have accepted, and DID in their masonic 'religion' ANY higher power and even those you might seek to exclude.
The symbols for that fact, are on every dollar you spend.
There would be no duel with me.... you however?
I think you would be surprized at their attitude towards religionists of any particular stripe. YOU and I clearly have a different world view and you facts are largely different from historical masonic records and doctrines, and covenants.
They were all masons, all pretty much deists and were VERY intolerant of fundamenatlism of any stripe, relative to the culture in which they were born. There WERE what you would today call fundamentalists, Roger Williams STARTED out as one, an evangelical Baptist, who in his later years repented for his conversion of indians...
We are a tolerant, NON religious-sectarian nation... though you are free to worship or not as you choose. THERE are those who want to proclaim this nation a christian one and socially conform our laws to the Christian faith in particular areas.
It will never happen unless Jesus Christ HIMSELF sets it up... the chalcedonians and wall builders do their own twisting of the founder's quotes and writings, particularly patrick henry's speeches that were part of his soundly defeated effort to feather bed, financially, a group of religious supporters.
the "Our nation is not fit to be governed by any but a christian people" type of quotes, are usually the ones related to his attempt to get government to fund his buddies.
the nation, however, REJECTED his attempt to fund religion via the aegis of the state.
push religion in state all you want.
MOST american will fight you and defeat you in your efforts.
NO religion in state or STATE religion.. not ever.
as for the biblical quotes in the supreme court and other federal buildings... so what... quotes from other religions are also there... that does not mean that our government follows the dictums of hammurabi.
the purpose of such quotes is testimony to the efforts of mankind, to be governed by laws instead of the passions of the animal kingdom... and not an endorsement of religion of ANY particular kind.
Glad we can agree on some things...
and firmly disagree on others.
your points are well taken... but I remain unpersuaded...
intransigently I must add.
..robert