Friday, March 5, 2010

General Beliefs Of Our Founding Fathers ...

It has been recently stated that our Founding Fathers were not religious, and that their principles and beliefs are neither appropriate nor relevant in contemporary America, you be the judge ...

George Washington, June 8, 1783 in a letter to the governors of the states on disbanding the army: "I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field; and, finally, that he would be most graciously pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation."

Thomas Jefferson, April 21, 1803 in a letter to Dr. Benjamin: "My views...are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the anti-christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others..."

1781, Query XVIII of his Notes on the State of Virginia: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."

James Madison, 1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia: "We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We've staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity...to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

John Adams, "The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount contain my religion..."

I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol.
You shall not take in vain the name of the Lord your God.
Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.
Honor your father and mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Taken from a letter to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813: "The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were....the general principles of Christianity....I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature."

Benjamin Franklin, March 9, 1790 in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University: "Here is my creed. I believe in/on God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshiped.
That the most acceptable service we render to Him is in doing good to His other Children. That the soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound Religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever Sect I meet with them.
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, is the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see."

Constitutional Convention of 1787, taken from original manuscript of the speech: "God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel!"


--sja

16 comments:

BOB said...

Well selected and well assembled ... strong, powerful stuff from the crème de la crème!

Well done!!

mysticdave said...

A very good post....really made me think....Thomas Jefferson expressed my particular personal views the best: April 21, 1803 in a letter to Dr. Benjamin: "My views...are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the anti-christian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others..."

BOB said...

Dave, my guess is that yours is the most popular choice ... mine too, methinks!

It's a bit like the judge of the county fair baking contest said ... "they're all real good but I think my wife's pie is the best!"

Tom Jefferson nailed it!

By agreement, the vote on the Declaration had to be unanimous ...

The United States Constitution imposed no declaration of allegiance to God on the states but the constitutions of all of the original 13 acknowledged and paid homage to God!

Indeed, the constitutions of all 50 so do, as does that of the republic ...

As our elected representatives take an oath of office affirming their upholding of those constitutions, seems to me that we have the legal right to expect and demand that they so do!

Anonymous said...

What about the Jefferson Bible?

Anonymous said...

What about the Jefferson Bible?

Anonymous said...

The so-called Jefferson Bible -- using a razor, Jefferson cut and arranged selected verses from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in chronological order, mingling excerpts from one text to those of another in order to create a single narrative ... to which American author and English professor Percival Everett made the following remarks: "Jefferson's recasting of the four Gospels of the New Testament…was an interesting (or not) bit of play intellectualism. Many claim his "translation" amounts to little more than a paraphrasing of the parts of the Bible with which he agreed. In fact, a glance at [several earlier translations of the Bible] might lead one to agree with this assertion. Still, he took it upon himself to do it, whatever it was he did. He decided that the rules of the club to which he wished to belong were not the rules he wanted to play by. So instead of changing clubs, he changed the rule book by literally cutting and pasting together only the sections that he found relevant to his interpretation" ... to which I agree ...

Jefferson never allowed it to be published during his lifetime ... the most complete form was inherited by his grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, and was published by the National Museum in Washington in 1895 ...

Anonymous said...

And to clarify my previous comment of "to which I agree" ... I meant that I agree with Percival Everett's opinion as to Jefferson's work ...

Anonymous said...

Furthermore, the Holy Bible states in 2 Peter 1:19-21, We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that [no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation]. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

BOB said...

I think one of the great values of this post is that it shows the intellect and character of many of the key players in this drama ... as well as their strong belief in God.

Moreover, an overwhelming majority of our founders were of this ilk.

While the listed fundamental beliefs of our founding fathers might well be augmented, I strongly believe that the disrepair in which we find ourselves is due in large part to their flagrant disregard and believe too that our long term survival as a nation depends upon our returned adherence to them.

This can only be effected if those charged with our governing are of the same ilk as that of our founders and passionately share those same beliefs.

Well, survival may be the wrong word ... somehow it seems close kin to the biblical question "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

The hopes and dreams of those who founded our nation ... of those who followed and made it great ... of those who died defending our nation and preserving our hopes, dreams and freedom ...

It's that which is at stake... are we to allow it to have all been in vain?

It's not an impossible task ... close, maybe ...

Now seems like a good time to get started and right here in the Southern Jackass' Stall seems like a great place to exchange ideas as to how to best so do.

I hope that folks reading my comments will overlook and/or disregard my limitations in self expression ... choose to join in ... share their ideas and opinions.

Stand up for that in which you believe ... now, before it's too late. Remaining seated or silent is much the same as standing up for those things in which you do not!

We have but an hour upon the stage ... let's use it for good purpose!

Anonymous said...

I am reading this article second time today, you have to be more careful with content leakers. If I will fount it again I will send you a link

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, I'm more than happy to share this post with whomever may find value in it ...

BOB said...

Probably just a case of great minds thinking alike ... truth is truth, no matter who says it!

Anonymous said...

I read a article under the same title some time ago, but this articles quality is much, much better. How you do this?

Anonymous said...

SJA is just too nice to say anything but it's really a shame that some insist upon abusing the privilege afforded by the anonymous "identity," casting doubt about the sincerity and intent of those who don't.

If you must abuse, consider taking a clue from the evil doer terrorists and at least take credit for your work!

Miss Carol said...

Thanks for being there. You too are a crazy person!

Corine Moore said...

So much is said which isn't true these days (ie- founders not being religious, constitution being outdated etc.). These are merely attempts to convince uneducated persons to remain ignorant and uneducated.

After all, knowledge is power. And to KNOW that the founders were religious, did pray before each assembly, did ask God to direct them in creating the Constitution and framework for the United States of America, and that God did hear and answer their prayers... IS TO KNOW THAT THE CONSTITUTION WAS INSPIRED OF GOD, AND THAT TO RETAIN OUR FREEDOM WHICH WAS SO DEARLY FOUGHT FOR - WE MUST VOTE IN/FOR CONGRESSMEN, REPRESENTATIVES, AND PRESIDENTS WHO WILL BE TRUE TO THE OATH THEY TAKE WHEN THEY ARE NOMINATED INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICES, TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION!!

This post is an example of how Satan's attempt to spread ignorance - is backfiring.

There is a God, and He will continue to whisper into the hearts of those who will ask for truth and listen; His words will be known, and by the good of those who hold onto and fight for the blessings of the Constitution inspired by God, THIS NATION SHALL ENDURE!

Thank you for this post!

Corine :D