Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political
prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In
vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these
firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere
politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to
cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with
private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the
security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of
religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of
investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge
the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.
Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on
minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to
expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious
principle.

"Whosoever shall introduce into the public affairs the principles of
primitive Christianity will change the face of the world."
-- falsely attributed to Benjamin Franklin

A disturbing trend in the past twenty-five years has been the creation
of founding father quotes out of whole cloth in attempts to appeal to
authority by the religious right. The most famous group of these bogus
quotes were perpetrated by the now infamous liar, David Barton of
Wallbuilders. Among his completely fabricated founding father quotes
used specifically for the illegitimate argument that there can be no
seperation of church and state are the following:

Walt starr's diary :: ::
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great
nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on
religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!"
-- falsely attributed to Patrick Henry

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the
Bible."
-- falsely attributed to George Washington

"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and
embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that
it should be otherwise. In this sense and to this extent, our
civilizations and our institutions are emphatically Christian."
-- falsely attributed to Holy Trinity v. U. S. (Supreme Court case)

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon
the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all
of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us
to govern ourselves ... according to the Ten Commandments of God."
-- falsely attributed to James Madison

"Whosoever shall introduce into the public affairs the principles of
primitive Christianity will change the face of the world."
-- falsely attributed to Benjamin Franklin

Now, with the speed of transferring false information across the web,
new quotes are being fabricated by unknown liars and making their way
across the web in emails and message board postings. The most recent
example of a widespread bogus quotation being accepted is the
following:

"Do not let any one claim to be a true American if they ever attempt
to remove religion from politics."
-- falsely attributed to George Washington

This quote, unlike the quotes above, was not apparently fabricated by
Barton (although the actual liar who made this one up is unknown at
this time) and has only appeared on the web. There is no citation for
this quote and it appears nowhere in any of Washington's writings or
speeches, yet it is now being cited in message board postings, emails,
and is even showing up on bumper stickers.

IT IS A LIE AS WASHINGTON NEVER EVER SAID IT OR WROTE IT!

This sort of fallacious crap being passed off as truth is yet another
example of a lying religious right. They cannot support their position
with the truth, so they resort to lying.

A list of other Barton quotes follows, but remember, this is not a
complete list of the lies spread by religious fanatics in an attempt
to lie their way into rhetorical support for their indefensible
positions. If you question a quote in any discussion, demand a source.
Do not allow an appeal to authority such as "it was in his second
inaugural address" as this sort of lie is used often by the religious
fanatics when no such thing was said in a cited speech. Deman written
proof. And now, some more of the bogus Barton quotes fabricated from
whole cloth:

"The principles of all genuine liberty, and of wise laws and
administrations are to be drown from the Bible and sustained by its
authority. The man therefore who weakens or destroys the divine
authority of that book may be assessory to all the public disorders
which society is doomed to suffer."
-- falsely attributed to Noah Webster

"There are two powers only which are sufficient to control men, and
secure the rights of individuals and a peaceable administration; these
are the combined force of religion and law, and the force or fear of
the bayonet."
-- falsely attributed to Noah Webster

"The only assurance of our nation's safety is to lay our foundation in
morality and religion."
-- falsely attributed to Abraham Lincoln

"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the
philosophy of government in the next."

-- falsely attributed to Abraham Lincoln

"I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of
the Sacred Volume will make us better citizens."
-- falsely attributed to Thomas Jefferson

If you ever come across a religious fanatic using these lies to prop
up their arguments, call them on it immediately and lay out for all
within hearing distance that the fanatic is resorting to lies.




-----

Yang
a.a. #28
AthD (h.c.) conferred by the regents of the LCL
a.a. pastor #-273.15, the most frigid church of Celcius nee Kelvin
EAC Econometric Forecast and Sorcery Division

The Bush 'balanced' budget: 2 trillion and worsening
The Bush 'economic' policy: 12.5 million FEWER jobs than Clinton and counting
The Bush Iraq lie: -2463 GIs, one friend's co-worker's son and mounting

Having Bush ***** up my country: Worthless

-----

"Ahhhhhh, yessssssss, ummmmmmm - Alito, Alito, Alito"
-duke (duckgumbo@cox.net), aka PedophilEarl J Weber, 59
year old mateless, heirless biological failure
of Afton Oaks Apartment, Baton Rouge,who pussied
out of the Vietnam draft, showing his gay side
despite his avowed anti-gay bigotry

Contact duke's priest and ask
him why duke is such a racist:

http://www.stpatrickbr.org/
Father Gerard "Jerry" Martin
stpatrickbr<AT>bellsouth<DOT>net
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
12424 Brogdon Lane
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816