American atheists, dont you have God to thank for your freedom?

Question

The man who wrote that declaration of independence, was chosen for the task because his fellow members of the Continental Congress were impressed with his ability to write clearly and convincingly. Even earlier than 1776, young Thomas Jefferson had put the Americans' case well: "The God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?"
And remember! all the founding fathers signed onto that very declaration.

Answer 1

No they have the big bang theory, and the cave men and the monkeys to thank.



Look at all the low ratings i get for saying that, lighten up guys.

Answer 2

So glad you chose that example. Thomas Jefferson was a deist, he believed in a god, but thought that that god did not intervene in worldly affairs and that thus spending time worshiping him was a waste of time. He also had the right idea about organized religion, let me give you some more of his quotes



In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.



I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature.



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.



So yeah, I think he had the right idea about the role of religion, he was also a strong proponent of the separation of church and state, another good idea.

As for god, yes, the declaration of independence does mention it, the constitution does not - can you tell me which of those two is a legal document?

Finally, the founding fathers were great politicians in their day, but the largely were not scientists, we know a lot more now than they did then, and the concept of god is just not necessary. If you want me to believe in your invisible sky-daddy, you're going to have to give me some concrete evidence that the exists, not just point out that others have and do believe in it.

Answer 3

You are dealing with what Jefferson may have not dreamed to have feared... and that is future generations who do not and will appreciate not the sacrifices that the freedom that they enjoy has cost.

They don't want to know, don't care, and in doing so abuse the responsibility they have as citizens of a free country.

Have you read McCain's and Obama's 4th of July writings on patriotism just released? Both are excellent.

Answer 4

i do no longer think you think of lifeless atheists can do all that moaning are you able to? The united states, with know, lacking polarity (and with a majority of Christians) have no longer something to do with its much less vitriol and censure to atheists and nonreligious; its the secularism and thought of freedom ascertained by utilising the form provides us some entertainment the two exceptional or no longer properly secure in different countries. I additionally criticise Islam on a each and daily foundation, ordinarily partly by using energetic Muslims bringing it up.

Answer 5

Thomas Jefferson had some rather interesting views. I strongly suspect he was a fascinating man. Were you aware that he also called the aspostle Paul "the first corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus"?

Answer 6

Even if I were to give you the benefit of the doubt the answer is still no. My question would be if christians have respect for documents like the declaration of independence why is there so much effort put forth to violate the constitution? Doesn't that document deserve respect also?

Answer 7

Many other countries have rights that are not them same as American. Now why would a god give some people certain rights but not other based on where they live? That is favoritism and that is wrong.

Answer 8

Well - yippee for the founding fathers.



Most of the Americans I know don't give a rip.



The most grateful Americans I know are the ones who had to EARN their citizenship.



Atheists cannot thank God for their freedom if they don't believe in God.



Leave them alone.



Namaste!

Answer 9

God didn't write the Declaration of Independence. I do thank the framers of the Constitution for my freedom from an oppressive religion, such as historical Christianity.



Believe me your incompetent god has nothing to do with our freedom.

Answer 10

Jefferson wrote it because Sam Adams didn't think he could do a good enough job.



Also Jefferson rewrote the bible so that it didn't have contradictions and was also not completely unbelivable.



Jefferson was a Deist.

Answer 11

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."



the laws of nature and nature's god, sounds more pagan than christian to me. also, a creator was mentioned in the declaration, but never christianity.

Answer 12

I can assure you that Jefferson was certainly NOT referring to YOUR version of god. The fact that he believed in some sort of god in no way sways my opinion that no such being exists. Your logical fallacy here is "argument from authority", in case you were wondering.

Answer 13

Well for one thing Thomas Jefferson felt the need to rewrite the New Testament because he didn't believe that Jesus was able to do miracles.



http://www.amazon.com/Jefferson-Bible-Thomas/dp/B000I0RSQ6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204926385&sr=8-1



Doesn't sound like the act of a Christian to me. You really need to go read what these guys wrote sometime. It is OBVIOUS they aren't all Christians, especially the example you picked out.

Answer 14

no,I thank the bill of rights,the declaration of independence and organizations and individuals who are politically active and fight to preserve these liberties. some of your beloved founding fathers were not Christian. go ahead google it.

Answer 15

These were politicians back then, - and they used God's name at their convenience.



But I'd say 1/3 of them were true believers.

Answer 16

If only the founding fathers were wise enough to define god first.

Answer 17

Uhhh Jefferson was a deist. Have you ever read the Jefferson Bible?

Answer 18

We actually have the French and the Dutch to thank.

Read your history books, yo!

Answer 19

you mean those slave owning white guys who invaded native lands, genocided and raped the population?



To credit those monsters with the concept of "freedom" shows a complete lack of understanding of the idea.



Freedom does not include slavery or oppression.

Answer 20

Do Arabic Christians have God to thank for their freedom?

Do the impoverished Latin American nations have God to thank for their wealth?

Do Bible Belt Christians who don't get any welfare from your government - and get no health care, no dental work, no infrastructure and no education have God to thank for their lot?





If so, I HATE HIM!!!!!



However, since he doesn't exist - I hate nothing.

Answer 21

No. And Jefferson didn't mean your god. He was a deist if I recall correctly. Look it up.

Answer 22

I owe god nothing. Thomas Jefferson had also written that he had found nothing redeeming in Christianity, and was a vehement secularist.

Answer 23

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS BLESS YA'LL SOULS. BECAUSE YA'LL ARE REALLY BLINDED THAT GOD DOES NOT EXIST. IT MUST FEEL VERY UGLY TO KNOW YA'LL HAVE NO PURPOSE IN LIFE AND HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO LOOK FOWARD TO BUT YA'LLS NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OF LIFE. HAVE FUN TRYING TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE. GUESS WHAT IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN NOT WITHOUT GODS LOVE.

Answer 24

ummm, right...God given liberties, but with the exceptions of politicians. Sorry, that doesn't hold water.



LOL!!!

Answer 25

In light of the fact that "god" doesn't exist, obviously we don't.



In addition, you'll find that some lying anti-American religious right traitor manufactured that quote. Jefferson didn't say it.



http://candst.tripod.com/studygd7d.htm



Thanks for playing. Better luck next time.

---------------------------

Oh, and you might take time on the 4th of July tomorrow to thank American atheists for defending your rights. Right now we're the main defenders of Americans' freedom of religion.

Answer 26

'' The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion..."

From Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli 1797. Unanimously ratified by the U.S. Senate and signed by President John Adams.

See? I can find quotes too.

Answer 27

You guys are all stupid, God is everything and you people are too dumb to know that. Well, this is how the world is nowadays...........*sigh*



EDIT: I totally agree with GKR!

Answer 28

Forgot you mother carried you for nine months before she gave birth?

Answer 29

judgment is Gods; God gave mankind a gift of freedom of choice ; to choose him or not; it is between God and each individual how they spend or squander a gift

Answer 30

we thank the people(founding fathers et al) who believe in god. not god.

Answer 31

If god was real, then maybe. But you see, my ancestors had freedom taken away- thanks to "god". I'm Native American/ American Indian, whatever you want to call me.



Religion is a form of brainwashing.

Answer 32

Gee willikers, that's some labored logic ya got there.

Answer 33

Some of those guys also owned slaves

Answer 34

who cares? these are the same men that also had slaves!! tons and tons of slaves... where is the liberty for them? christian hypocritcs .....

Answer 35

You know, I really, really don't. That's one of the beauties of freedom.

Answer 36

no, but you have atheists to thank for your modern comfortable life.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atheists_%28science_and_technology%29





btw, jefferson was a deist

Answer 37

Only in a mind as arrogant as yours!



Edit: Don't Native Americans have [your] god to thank for their freedom? Oh, wait...

Answer 38

No. If we don't believe in him, there's no way we'll ever thank him. What's the point? That's it.

Answer 39

I LOVE YOUR Nick!



Do not expect any positive remarks on this question because it is not in their nature to admit anything Godly. ;0

Answer 40

No, I have american soldiers to thank for my freedom.



Thank you soldiers!

Answer 41

hard to answer cuz am not amirican

Answer 42

Fly away, wouldja?

Answer 43

Thank who?

Answer 44

they were wrong then, and still wrong today, to assume that there actually is a 'god'

Answer 45

fly away troll

Answer 46

maybe you misunderstand what atheism is...

Answer 47

Eh? Athiests don't believe in God so they will thanks the one who wrote the bible.

Answer 48

No.

Answer 49

*Yawn*





No.