An Amazing Bit of History
Now, this is really interesting.
The author of this book, and the head of this site BeliefNet.com, was being interviewed today, which is how I learned of this stuff.
He’s done a bunch of research on the actual religious beliefs and practices and such of our "founding fathers" – the folks that recently have been pointed to as the founders of our "Christian nation".
Did you know that Jefferson disliked the Bible so much that he was re-writing his own version? He believed in Jesus’ moral principles, but did not believe that Jesus was divine or any of the other "dung" (his description, not mine).
Here’s a page about Jefferson and his negative feelings towards the Apostle Paul, who he felt had changed what Jesus intended the religion to be. I would have to agree with Jefferson here. I don’t think Jesus intended to create an authoritarian church hierarchy that has these awesome powers of "you go to heaven, you go to hell" that the Pope seems to think he has, and I think the origins of that authoritarian structure lie with Paul, later with the other popes who came along and, among other things, eliminated the gnostic sects. Personally, I think the gnostics were closer to the truth than the groups we have now that call themselves christian.
And James Madison (my daughter goes to the Virginia university named after him) said this:
"[Religious bigotry is] a monster, that feeding & thriving on its own venom, gradually swells to a size and strength overwhelming all laws divine & human"
wow. very astute, and very applicable to our times, across the world.
Anyway, apparently the "religious founding fathers" weren’t as religious as some folks would like to believe, and they also weren’t of one mind. Shit, sometimes I just LOVE history! 😉
take care all.
Jude
ps: interesting, but there doesn’t seem to be a "Religions" circle. I guess if there ever was one, it died a loud, flaming death. hm.
i hate when people excuse some of bush’s stuff by saying that our country was founded on christianity… i’m like uh do some research, it was founded on deism! oh well some people want to dig their heads in the sand their whole lives.. whatever. stop by my diary sometime.
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Imagine no Religions circle.
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interesting. there used to be a religion and philosophy circle. hmmm. very interesting.
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LOL at your note:) yep it is crazy, could’nt pay me a million dollars to dine at that place. You have a great day!
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That is really interesting, thanks for telling us! *Wonders how she can impress her Theology lecturers withit, :D*
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Loud, flaming death? Likely. xoxox Sweetie
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ryn: You sound like a pinko.
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I have heard over the past few years how much Paul interfered with and changed the original teachings of Jesus.
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being an athiest it sounds right to me. sometimes you have to scare the kiddies to get them to believe in the bedtime stories hey? xxx
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wow, intersting
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ryn: I liked that line about a live boy or a dead girl. I probably would have voted for him just for saying it. Massachussetts re-elected Teddy Kennedy even after a dead girl was found in his car. I wonder if she really drowned or if the accident that marked him as a flawed character was a coverup to an even bigger flaw. I have a really cute picture of Teddy and his wife after the accident. These stand by your manacle entries could go on for a long time.
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ryn: honestly, id probably hide the secret in the closet and sneek a peak whenever i was in desperate need for it. id try not to let it destroy the complications of life, due to the fact that it just wouldnt be the way it should be. but a little hint once in a while wouldnt be so bad.
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ryn: I think we have to draw the line at the Humanist view of privilege ending where someone’s fist meets anothers nose. Should the elite be allowed to endanger others by their actions (such as speeding)? No. But giving them preferential treatment in other areas is not wrong. I spend about $50k a year on airline tickets, and because of this, I always get preferential treatment by that carrier, such as free upgrades to first class on every ticket. The guy who flies once a year to visit his Aunt Tilly in Paducah doesn’t get that. Is that wrong?
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