Damn this could be the start of something. I can perhaps feel the tug of the keyboard upon my fingers, even if only for a short burst. In any event my blog sloth is under an attack from both duty and desire. The QotM is back, this time with a quote from James Madison. Madison was our fourth president and had a busy hand in the writing of our constitution. Indeed he is considered the father of our constitution. Not only that but Madison basically set the stage for how our government operates.
For most of my regulars you all know this series is dedicated to the common trope that our nation was founded for x-ians by x-ians. This oft repeated lie you will hear echoing throughout our great land and beyond. It is my job, nay my duty to point out this little fallacy when I can.
Without further ado, our quote from James Madison :
“Experience witnesseth that ecclesiastical establishments, instead of maintaining the purity and efficacy of religion, have had a contrary operation. During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.”
Anyone with an eye for seeing beyond the facade that is religion can see that, but few could have said it better. It seems every time I do one of these I am struck by the way the truth was as evident then as it is now. Only those willing to shed the blinders of religion get to see that ugly and shallow truth.
My quote source: http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html
A little more history on James Madison and the Virginia Plan that eventually morphed into what we see as our government today: https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-constitution-amendments/james-madison/