A favorite quote of mine

[BlackVelvet04]

Excerpt from July 4th Oration by John Leland (Baptist Minister), July 5, 1802.



. . . Disdain mean suspicion, but cherish manly jealousy; be always jealous of your liberty, your rights. Nip the first bud of intrusion on your constitution. Be not devoted to men; let measures be your object, and estimate men according to the measures they pursue. Never promote men who seek after a state-established religion; it is spiritual tyranny--the worst of despotism. It is turnpiking the way to heaven by human law, in order to establish ministerial gates to collect toll. It converts religion into a principle of state policy, and the gospel into merchandise. Heaven forbids the bans of marriage between church and state; their embraces therefore, must be unlawful. Guard against those men who make a great noise about religion, in choosing representatives. It is electioneering. If they knew the nature and worth of religion, they would not debauch it to such shameful purposes. If pure religion is the criterion to denominate candidates, those who make a noise about it must be rejected; for their wrangle about it, proves that they are void of it. Let honesty, talents and quick despatch, characterise the men of your choice. Such men will have a sympathy with their constituents, and will be willing to come to the light, that their deeds may be examined. . . .

[supernova]

1. Oh, this is beautiful,

Thank you for this. And I agree completely. It makes me think :wtf: happened to the Baptists in the last 200 years?

Do you mind if I post it in the Religion and Theology forum? It's become something of a theists/athiests debate society. ;-)

[BlackVelvet04]

2. You're welcome

and please feel free to post it anywhere you want.

I have a great Separation of Church and State website link for anyone who wants it:

http://members.tripod.com/~candst/

That site has about everything you could ever want to know about the founding father's position on separation of church and state.

[GOPBasher]

3. Wow, that's pretty powerful!! We should always quote that

to Falwell, Dobson, Robertson, etc.

[pelagius]

4. Just stumbled across this and want to give it a kick!

So true, so true, so true...