Amen

"The United States of America should have a foundation free from the
influence of clergy."--George Washington


“Denominated a Deist, the reality of which I have never disputed,
being
conscious that I am no Christian.”
Ethan Allen

"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." Thomas Jefferson

"Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to
assume
authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the General
Government. It must then rest with the States, as far as it can be
in
any human authority. But it is only proposed that I should
recommend,
not prescribe a day of fasting and prayer. That is, that I should
indirectly assume to the United States an authority over religious
exercises, which the Constitution has directly precluded them from."
Thomas Jefferson

"Where do we find a precept in the Bible for Creeds, Confessions,
Doctrines and Oaths, and whole carloads of other trumpery that we
find
religion encumbered with in these days?" John Adamshave been
upholding
the thrones of political tyranny. In no instance have they been
seen as
the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to
subvert the public liberty have found in the clergy convenient
auxili"What influence in fact have Christian ecclesiastical
establishments had on civil society? In many instances they aries.
A
just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate liberty, does
not need the clergy." James Madison

"I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father,
expects
or requires no worship or praise from us, but that He is even
infinitely
above it." - Benjamin Franklin from "Articles of Belief and Acts of
Religion", Nov. 20, 1728

"What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on
society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual
tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they
have
been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance
have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers
who
wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established
clergy
convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and
perpetuate it, needs them not." - James Madison, "A Memorial and
Remonstrance", 1785


"In the Papal System, Government and religion are in a manner
consolidated, and that is found to be the worst of Government."
James
Madison

"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
to
call it the word of a demon than the word of a god. It is a history
of
wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind." Thomas
Paine

"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 purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever
from
these
shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in
blood
for
centuries." James Madison

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