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George Washington sworn in using Masonic Bible

Dr. Nosophoros

Active Member
I don't think it says that much really, just that George Washinton was sworn in with a Masonic Bible, it doesn't change the constitution or the intent behind it. The constitution is not wrong, it's the people who have interpreted it and other things to serve themselves and their aspirations, there are no exceptions in the first ammendment.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Adding to that some of the most well known "founding fathers" were actually pretty critical of religion which is something that is not generally taught in our schools, here are a few quotes that you may have never heard:

Thomas Jefferson:
"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are serviley crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God, because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blind faith."

"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."--Thomas Jefferson, _Notes_on_Virginia_, _Jefferson_the_President:_First_Term_1801-1805_, Dumas Malon, Boston: Little Brown and Company, 1970, p. 191


"...no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise.. affect their civil capacities."--Thomas Jefferson, _Statute_for_Religious_Freedom_, 1779, _The_Papers_of_Thomas_Jefferson_, edited by Julron P. Boyd,

"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because if there be one, He must approve the homage of Reason rather than that of blindfolded Fear." -- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr, Aug. 10, 1787, _2000_Years_of_Disbelief_ by James A. Haught 1950, 2:546

I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition [Christianity] one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded on fables and mythology."--Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Short, _Six_Historic_Americans_ by John E. Remsberg

"Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned, yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity [of opinion]. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites."--Thomas Jefferson, _Notes_on_the_State_of_Virginia_(1781-85), _Oxford_Dictionary_of_Quotations_


"The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves...these clergy, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ."

James Madison:

"Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and all of which facilitates the execution of mischievous projects. Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded project."--James Madison, _2000_Years_of_Disbelief_ by James A. Haught


Thomas Paine:

"I would not dare to so dishonor my Creator God by attaching His name to that book (the Bible).

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."--Thomas Paine, _The_Age_of_Reason


"The age of ignorance commenced with the Christian system."--Thomas Paine, _2000_Years_of_Disbelief_, James A. Haught


"As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because priestcraft supports itself by keeping people in delusion and ignorance, it was consistent with its policy to make the acquisition of knowledge a real sin."--Thomas Paine, _Of_The_Religion_of_Deism_Compared_With_the_Christian_Religion_


"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortuous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we call it the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize [hu]mankind." -- Thomas Paine, _The_Age_of_Reason_


"Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst."

John Adams:

"The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and whole carloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity."

"But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legaends, hae been blended with both Jewish and Chiistian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed.--John Adams in a letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816, _2000_Years_of_Disbelief_, John A. Haught


"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved--the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!"--John Adams in a letter to Thomas Jefferson


Benjamin Franklin:

"Lighthouses are more helpful than churches." Poor Richards Almanac, 1758

"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.", Poor Richard , 1758


"I wish it (Christianity) were more productive of good works ... I mean real good works ... not holy day keeping, sermon-hearing ... or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments despised by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity." -- Benjamin Franklin , _Works_ Vol.VII, p.75

"If we look back into history for the character of the present sects of Christianity, we shall find few that have not in turns been persecutors and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in Pagans, but practiced it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England blamed persecution on the Roman church, but preactied i on the Puritans. They found it wrong in Bishops, but fell into the practice both here (England) and in New England" Poor Richard, 1758


"Religion I found to be without any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serves principally to divide us and make us unfriendly to one another."
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I don't feel that there was any intention of attempting to make the United States a Bible based country, that was/is others doing. For example, The pledge of allegiance did not include " under God" until congress passed it in 1954 after lobbying by the Knights of Columbus, I don't feel Bush wants to make his religious beliefs universal but if you look at some of the language in the prayer that was spoken, it seems pretty clear that his some of his supporters are definately using it as a political tool to gain approval, support etc. through faith.


The first ammendment is perfectly clear, but I think it's important to understand the views and intentions of the men that formed this country at it's roots when trying to explain or understand the constitution. The idea of taking the root ideals and thoughts to try to understand what the founding fathers actually thought or felt which formed the true meaning behind the writing of the ammendments is crucial to it's interpretation.


This especially plays into the second ammendment, I'm a firm believer in the individuals right to keep and bear arms, and everything that was said by our countries forefathers support that idea- thus the intent (but that is for another post). Unfortunately they did not write the second as clear as the first even though it was said to be the most important to insure freedom. The thoughts that formed those amendments echo the true meaning beyond the literal interpretation, this is usually ignored by the anti-gun crowd who want to stick with the literal meaning of the second amendment because they feel that the fight is more easily won and they can get their way. I just wish the second was as clear as the first to avoid that, but I am sure they would have another excuse ready and the writers probably could not concieve that someone would want to do away with it.
 

Pah

Uber all member
pgd said:
George Washington was sworn in as President of the United States using a Masonic Bible....
A Masonic Bible - was it one they published or one they own?
 
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