With my tail between my legs I say... Excellent retort. But for the record, I never would WANT a Fundamentalist government.....
Again, cannot argue with you here. Devout was inded the wrong word to use. However, I think it is safe to say that their moral compass was based in Biblical principle. That is what worries me about the modern understanding of the words "seperation of church and state". It could be argued that the general consensus is that if a person draws their belief system from Biblical standards, they cannot serve in government. The best current example being Mitt Romney. There is way more to the man than his religion, but that is all people want to talk about. Sad.
And I both thank and curse you now. Your excellent retort is motivation to reread what I currently have on Jefferson and the other founders, AND I am going to end up spending more money on some new resources. LOL
Again, cannot argue with you here. Devout was inded the wrong word to use. However, I think it is safe to say that their moral compass was based in Biblical principle. That is what worries me about the modern understanding of the words "seperation of church and state". It could be argued that the general consensus is that if a person draws their belief system from Biblical standards, they cannot serve in government. The best current example being Mitt Romney. There is way more to the man than his religion, but that is all people want to talk about. Sad.
And I both thank and curse you now. Your excellent retort is motivation to reread what I currently have on Jefferson and the other founders, AND I am going to end up spending more money on some new resources. LOL
We have some very religious people (at least, so they say) in office right now. I don't think their beliefs were an impediment to their election . . . if anything, their beliefs were a benefit to them, even if they offend many people. This being a democracy, those who were offended were outnumbered by those who agreed or didn't care.
Romney's problem, so to speak, is that he comes from a branch of Christianity that is viewed by some as either:
1) Not legitimately Christian
2) Christian but heretical or blasphemous
3) Fanatical (which isn't true, I've met Mormons of every stripe of dedication)
4) Just this side of a UFO cult (Not quite fair)
A better question is whether Ron Paul could get elected if we are asking about Christian beliefs, or even Biblical beliefs as the majority of Americans view the Bible.
Romney is actually more of a question like: can a member of a minority religion be elected President? Mormonism is, at least by its own claim a branch of Christianity, but many don't see it that way.
PS: there has been some excellent recent scholarship done on the Founding Fathers that is accessable in paperback; try "Founding Brothers" (I think that's the title) for a quick overview