So with the issue of Christian Fundamentalism becoming a prominent feature in American politics it's time we consider the foundations of the political system.
My favourite piece of nonsense from the (funda)mentalist American camp is the old quote "one nation under God" toted as a rallying cry against; jews, muslims, non-christian american and all other denominations and creeds that don't share thier beliefs but they so quickly forget the "where all men are created EQUAL".
It has been widley ascribed that the majority of the founding fathers where in fact atheist but added the references to GOD to keep with the zietgiest of the time and maintain support, i think in this respect they are probably turning in thier graves at the thought of this modern america.
Discuss
It is highly doubtable that the founding fathers were atheist. They were certainly all spiritualists, and most of them were actually deists. I don't think any single one of them was a Christian though, so the whole thing about "this is a christian nation" is wrong.
The chances of a prominante figure in sociayy, at that time, being an atheist are slim to none. The atheist movement really only began to pick up steem around 1800.
Fair points, but i think many of there actions and writing cast doubt on the strength of thier convictions, i think it could be said that many of them were atheist...but simply covered thier tracks to avoid any political problems for themselves.
Fair points, but i think many of there actions and writing cast doubt on the strength of thier convictions, i think it could be said that many of them were atheist...but simply covered thier tracks to avoid any political problems for themselves.
I'd go along with that. At the end of C18 the enlightenment was far advanced but it was still a big step to come out as an atheist, so a common stance was deism, which is not far from being the same thing. There's an excellent article in Wiki.
I don't think there is really any point in discussing if they were or not anwyay. We'll never know for sure (the term "closet" defies all investigation). The most we can say is that they were deist and rejected religion.
Very true DrPoodle
It might have been a much better world if America was founded on a Atheist based theology though.
Don't you think?
"Atheist theology" - now there's an oxymoron
I certainly don't doubt the world would be a better place without religion. It would stop most major wars anyway.
Major wars? Name a soly religious war. In fact, name any war that was mostly caused my religion.
Major wars? Name a soly religious war. In fact, name any war that was mostly caused my religion.
Solely or mainly religious?
All the crusades, including the Albigensian Crusade.
The 30 years' war.
The English Civil War.
The India-Pakistan Wars.
Much of the recent trouble in the former Yugoslavia.
Bush's 'war on terror'.
Oh, hell, I'm fed up with typing them.