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 ...
Some of the Hucksters have turned the primary into a modern day version of the Salem witch trials. I has someone tell me, today, that a vote for Romney was a vote for Satan. I wonder what they think of a vote for McCain.
At that time some of the Church of the First Born crowd were pretty clearly still at a pre-Christian level of religious development.
Thanks, and I think this is why many radio talk show hosts are backing Romney, they are not concerned about faith, but that he seems to be the only one on the ticket that can do the job right. I too will not vote for a pastor.
Maybe The Huck is being paid off with promises from Romney?!?!?!?! (heavy drum beats).
And your characterization of those in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in error.
The vicarious work done in behalf of those who are deceased is submitted by family members.
LDS members can be married in a religions ceremony outside of an LDS temple, to which all may attend. If they choose to have the ceremony performed inside a temple, which has requirements for participation, then only those who meet those requirements may enter the temple. You are also forgetting that where and by whom the marriage is performed is the couple’s decision and their wishes should be respected over even those of their parents.
Lastly, all religions are cults, unless you are using the perjorative definition of cult, then you are wrong about the LDS faith. Members are free to come and go as they please and there is not a cult of personality required within the church. Those are two of the most important factors in controlling cults.
“My vote was cast for Romney in GA yesterday, primarily as a ‘stop McCain’ maneuver. I’m not proud of that. But it’s the reality of the decision I made.”
I did the same thing down here too.
“We do agree that this year, conservatives have the most lame field of candidates in my years since I turned voting age. It’s not an easy choice”
I am trying to decide which was is worse, Ford,Dole or McCain.
I’ll say McCain!
Not nearly as true as many would like to believe. Washington, for instance, was actually baptisted by believer's baptism by the Baptist preacher John Gano. That would not have happened had Washington been a deist all his life. He may have been up until the point where he was converted to Biblical Christianity.
He believe in marrying a woman with a rich father.
And your characterization of those in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in error.
The vicarious work done in behalf of those who are deceased is submitted by family members.
LDS members can be married in a religions ceremony outside of an LDS temple, to which all may attend. If they choose to have the ceremony performed inside a temple, which has requirements for participation, then only those who meet those requirements may enter the temple. You are also forgetting that where and by whom the marriage is performed is the couple’s decision and their wishes should be respected over even those of their parents.
Lastly, all religions are cults, unless you are using the perjorative definition of cult, then you are wrong about the LDS faith. Members are free to come and go as they please and there is not a cult of personality required within the church. Those are two of the most important factors in controlling cults.
30 times!!!!!!! (heavy drum beats)
This stuff needs to be exposed to the media! A baptist preacher! A close friend of mine grew up in a Baptist home and today as good hearted as he is, he can’t stand hearing the gospel, because his Huckabee like parents forced fed him a shallow truths if any Bible truths. Huckabee is purposely staying in because Romney is a Mormon and I bet Huckabee thinks he is doing God’s work.
Its an honestly debatable point. Lets not make this a thread hijacking. Christianity v Mormonism has been beat to death here and elsewhere.
Tell you what I have never heard from a Mormon. I have NEVER heard them claim that Catholics or Baptists or any other church that professed to be Christians, were not.
You might want to reread the words of Joe Smith when he described the other churches of his day.
No, not that I know of.
Whatever your answer is to that question it the answer to what to do.
Huh?
"No, not that I know of" is what I should do?
That makes no sense, nor do you.
I do not need to know the answer.
You don't want an answer because you know the question was worthy of a fourth grade special-ed student.
Jefferson considered himself a Christian, but denied the divinity of Christ and wrote the “Jefferson Bible” of the New Testament with all the miracles taken out. The quote you excerpted was actually taken from the introduction to this book.
http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/jeffbsyl.html
Here is the actual quote....
“They are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from that 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 anyone to be: sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others, ascribing to himself every human excellence, and believing he never claimed any other.”
Hmm, are you saying that he who gets the VP nod becomes Pres?
There you have it, what makes Romney’s Mormonism any different than Jefferson’s? Thanks to the reply.
The vicarious work done in behalf of those who are deceased is submitted by family members........
Not true. This is being done WITHOUT consult or request from any family members in most cases.
On all religions being a cult, I guess if you are of that belief, then you can’t see the problem.
LOL!
I don’t see what you see. Can you elaborate?
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