The Age of Unreasonable

The far religious right continues to push for teaching of intelligent design in public schools. This, they believe, is more convincing than proven science. Michelle Bachmann, for one, recently called for such a public policy at the 2011 Republican Leadership Conference.

Inevitably, such demands for this archaic view are linked to the “beliefs of the founding fathers of America.” Conveniently, these politicians don’t seem to read any of the original texts and quotes by our founding fathers. And in doing so, put pure belief over humans’ most valuable possession: the ability to reason.

Here are some of the most influential founding fathers’ actual words on their views of religion. Reason for yourself:

Thomas Jefferson:

“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-rid­den people maintainin­g a free civil government­. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.”

John Adams:

“The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” –Trea­ty of Tripoly, article 11

Ben Franklin:

“The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.” –Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1758

Thomas Paine:

“All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.”

James Madison:

Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption, all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects. –Lletter to William Bradford, Jr., Jauary 1774

-AR

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