The Founders were reaching for the concept of a secular state, but it's not quite where they were. They all believed in a deity. They were also very aware of the harm done when the advocates of one religion controlled the state and imposed their beliefs and practices on everyone else. So they carefully designed the new government to prev…
The Founders were reaching for the concept of a secular state, but it's not quite where they were. They all believed in a deity. They were also very aware of the harm done when the advocates of one religion controlled the state and imposed their beliefs and practices on everyone else. So they carefully designed the new government to prevent that - exactly the opposite of the claims of those who wish to impose their particular brand of Christianity through the government today.
I understand that they were Deists. They were not too far removed from awful religious wars in Europe and rightfully did not want that here. We have had plenty examples of theocracies in history and some now. I was thinking of a secular state vs. a theocracy, not that people did not believe in a deity.
The Founders were reaching for the concept of a secular state, but it's not quite where they were. They all believed in a deity. They were also very aware of the harm done when the advocates of one religion controlled the state and imposed their beliefs and practices on everyone else. So they carefully designed the new government to prevent that - exactly the opposite of the claims of those who wish to impose their particular brand of Christianity through the government today.
I understand that they were Deists. They were not too far removed from awful religious wars in Europe and rightfully did not want that here. We have had plenty examples of theocracies in history and some now. I was thinking of a secular state vs. a theocracy, not that people did not believe in a deity.