[GL of Sector 2814]

And I’m sure there were more unbelievers than Thomas Paine. But their number is so few that my general statement is not a false one.

There was also Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (many of the more prominent Founding Fathers were Unitarians and Deists). Given the caveat that your statement was a generalization it's certainly valid.

[Natural Law]

We hear repeatedly on FR that Catholics are not really Christian and that they do not represent the conservative values of the FR community. We are often characterized as evo-atheists, papists, and worse. A simple search of Creation posts will easily reveal the insults and the insulters. The conservative credentials of Catholics and the contributions of Catholics to the revolution can best be summarized by Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence;

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments."

It is important to note that at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence Catholics could not hold office, exercise the franchise, educate their children in their faith, or worship in public in the colonies by edict of the Protestant Parliament and assemblies. I get a sense that many on FR would love to return to that state.

[John Leland 1789]

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

These men did neither disdain nor disrespect Christians.