To whom it may concern,
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.
Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company: I mean hell.
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.
Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!
I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.
These are all quotes given by one of our founding father’s John Adams. In the third quote, he is speaking of the Christianity of the Bible, not of some other religion. “Christ”ianity refers to those who follow Christ and His Word (The Bible). He is clearly stating that it is superior to every other religion, and then goes on to quote that the Bible is the greatest book in the world. This was the same feeling that so many of our founding father’s had about the Bible which is why they established our nation upon it. To remove the Bible from this display is a huge mistake and one in which the founder’s would not look favorably upon. We have twisted the First Amendment to something that founding father’s never intended. We are doing a great injustice to their work, and a great disservice to the millions and millions of Americans who still do trust the Bible and know that our nation was founded upon it. You have heard the voices that have spoken out about removing the Bible, well I want to be a voice that says “put it back!” It was right where it belonged. This nation was founded on that book, and it should not be removed every time somebody rises up and has a problem with it. People will be offended about it, but we must remember where we came from, and not quiver at every little complaint. Well now I am complaining. Put that Bible back where it was and stop backing down to people who don’t know true American History and where this country came from. Thank you for your time.
(name withheld)
Your beliefs are clearly deeply held. That’s wonderful for you.
However, despite your having studied all the world’s religions and found them
wanting in comparison to yours, many people in the world continue to believe
in and practice religions or other belief- or non-belief- systems that are neither
Christian nor Bible-based. And that seems to work for them.
Despite your belief about the Founders and their reasoning, the fact is that
they ordained a system that favored no one religion and explicitly and
repeatedly expressed their commitment to equally honoring the value of
all belief systems, and that includes non-belief.
For that reason, no government-associated organization can promote or express
a preference for one religion over another. That is the law and it is also clearly
spelled out in military regulations.
So, you are welcome to your opinion and your belief system, as are all those who
believe differently.
Best,
Mike Farrell
(MRFF Board of Advisors)
Could the writer of this email, or one of the other theocrats who’s reading this, tell us which specific “general principles of Christianity” were “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence”? General principles which are not uniquely Christian are NOT a valid answer to that question.