But Jefferson was a man of incredible intellect and insight. His characterization of the Presbyterian and Calvinist temperament and disposition towards tolerance of contrary views was spot on. They were insufferable 250 years ago and they remain so today. When ever they have establish numeric superiority they have moved quickly to impose their beliefs on everyone else. They are the antithesis of the freedoms that make America unique.
Even in a forum that is dedicated, in theory, to discussing religion, they shout down opposing views and insist that their faulty interpretations of scripture and the beliefs of other religions are accepted over objective evidence to the contrary. Far too often the resort to insults, lies, fabrications and innuendo to make their point when the truth fails them. It would be funny if it weren't so serious and sad.
On his best day Spurgeon was a verbose anti-Catholic bigot who had no concept of humility.
On his best day Spurgeon was a verbose anti-Catholic bigot who had no concept of humility.
I've yet to meet a Catholic yet who exhibited humility. Most of them are arrogant and condescending to an appalling degree.
FRoman Catholics are no exception.
There's not a Catholic in the world who can justifiably complain about persecution with the history the Catholic church has had for hundreds of years.
"We should all then, like the Quakers, live without an order of priests, moralize for ourselves, follow the oracle of conscience, and say nothing about what no man can understand, nor therefore believe: for I suppose belief to be the assent of the mind to an intelligible proposition." TJ to Edward Dowse, April 19. 1803, in Norman Cousins (ed.), In God We Trust: The Religious Beliefs and Ideas of the American Founding Fathers (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1958), p.237.
But he was okay with the Jesus of Christianity:
"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 any one 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." TJ to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803, ibid., p. 168.