In case anyone is thinking I'm getting "domestic" & in danger of becoming one of those "shudder" craft bloggers....
A disclaimer.
In reading C. Woods latest post, here, I was reminded of how strongly I feel about what I think the principles of "Separation of Church & State" mean & what I think the original spirit of that philosophy entails for me.
This is an excellent article that outlines the intentions and philosophies of the "Founders of American Democracy" & puts it in better words then I can.
Two great quotes:
When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one. - Benjamin Franklin: in letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780
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. -- President Thomas Jefferson: in letter to Alexander von Humboldt, December 6, 1813
Those guys really got it!
& to think there are some who would pervert & impede that great progressive spirit of justice & send us back to the dark ages.
"UGH"
posted by Rita @ 6:55 PM
8 Comments
8 Comments:
Franklin and Jefferson, and Paine as well, are great sources of quotes about religion that would make the modern fundies/teabaggers' hair stand on end. If these guys were alive today and saying such things, they'd be denounced as Communist, un-American, and probably Kenyan as well.
Oh, and nothing wrong with being a craftblogger. Jefferson never said anything about a wall of separation between craft and blog:-) A blog should be a reflection of the blogger, and anything a blogger is interested in is fair game for posting. After worms, sex, and flying cars, scarves hardly constitute an unsettling new deviation.:-)
Boy oh Boy Mr.Infidel said a mouthful there! I think Thomas Jefferson as well as Franklin would both have their foot knee deep in their asses in a New York second! Seperation of Church and State? .... heh, heh, heh, heh, heh .... the church and state are about as seperate in 2010 as a junkie and their worx(needle)! :) Nonetheless, it's hilarious in a twisted sense. I better shut up.
BTW .... really nice photo I may add! Yep ....I been reading up on all the headline's too .... from the Chess Champion's to even the new store "Pic-n-Play" in the Avalar Bldg on 2nd St. :)
Later Ms.Rita .... and Thanx ....
Infidel
I love following the history of the humanist bent of philosophy that led up to those great ideals & it makes me angry to think that fundamentalist religious nuts would try to hi-jack those same liberating ideals & turn them into something else that is not liberating at all.
Ranch chimp
I didn't take that photo, but it's an inspiration for my next project. :)
Churches have historically always tried to control political policy. They are greedy bastards, for sure. They are never content to accept second best. The people who were really passionate about the new American style democracy understood this. That is what made it the driving force it was. Separation of Church & State is fundamental to freedom.
Well, I thought you'd enjoy a bit of rural Oregon lifestyle.
Brilliant quotation there Rita :)
^^^^Referring to the Benjamin Franklin quote.
For the Thomas Jefferson quote, I must concede that past performance is not always a perfect predictor of future performance, although it typically is a good indicator thereof though. Through ever so gradual shifts in their dogma, priests might evolve into a whole new species of religious leaders, of course in order to do so they would need to throw out the Bibles though.
qf
Bibles, Koran, Torah, no difference.
The priestly caste is corrupt.
Religious followers are the most programmable people though.
qf
Very true!
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