Originally posted by JaTo:
To add layer of complexity to this tale: Christianity was as much of a social institution as a religious institution back then; a profound lack of movie theaters and other secular leisure activities pretty much had most of the population attending church if not for the spiritual aspects of congregating and worship, for the social aspects of it.
This is why the any references to religion in the constitution are exclutionary. The founders realized that the zealots were trying to form a theocracy and wanted nothing of it. The continental congress met privately and did not publicize the results of the proceedings, because they knew their constituents would not be happy with the results. The educated people of the time were much more "enlightened" than the ignorant populace. I am always amazed at the wisdom and forethought of the founders.
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But thus do I counsel you, my friends: distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful!
Friedrich Nietzsche
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