Here are some of my favorite Founding Father Quotes from the Revolutionary War:"Nothing is a greater stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and detestable one, ingratitude." - George Washington - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/george-washington-quotes-1.html"And forasmuch as ingratitude is one of the most odious of vices, let me not be unmindful gratefully to acknowledge the favours I receive from Heaven! For all Thy innumerable benefits; For life and reason, and the use of speech, for health and joy and every pleasant hour, my Good God, I thank Thee." - Ben Franklin - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/ben-franklin-quotes-1.html"If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy." - Thomas Jefferson - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/thomas-jefferson-quotes-1.html"The times that tried men's souls are over-and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished." - Thomas Paine - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/thomas-paine-quotes-1.html"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/john-adams-quotes-1.html"It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it [the Constitution] a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution." - James Madison - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/james-madison-quotes-3.html"Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others." - Patrick Henry - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/patrick-henry-quotes.html"Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt." - Samuel Adams - http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/samuel-adams-quotes-1.html

?The religion most prevalent in our northern colonies is a refinement on the principles of resistance: it is the dissidence of dissent, and the Protestantism of the Protestant religion?Edmund Burke quotes (British Statesman and Philosopher, 1729-1797)?America owes most of its social prejudices to the exaggerated religious opinions of the different sects which were so instrumental in establishing the colonies.? James F. Cooper quotes

“one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind”  ?  :-

Here are some quotes that ar sure to be unpopular:For the answer to the question ?How Christian were the founding fathers?? one can turn either to Christian activists or to the founders themselves. James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution, spoke of ?almost 15 centuries? during which Christianity had been on trial: ?What have 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.? The Constitution has no mention of Christianity, and the presidential oath of office mandated by the Constitution has no mention of God. Thomas Jefferson compared the story of the virgin birth of Jesus to a Roman fable and prohibited the teaching of religion to undergraduates at the University of Virginia. Finally, in 1797, the Senate unanimously ratified the Treaty of Tripoli, which contained the words ?As the government of the United States of America . . . is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.? The founders werethere at the time. The Christian activists were not.  I know this is a sensitive subject, but it is grist for the discussion mill.

And conversely, a viewpoint from the other side:George Washington"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian." --The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343Thomas Jefferson"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event." --Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237. Benjamin Franklin"Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them. As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see; But I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive, that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure."  --Benjamin Franklin wrote this in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University on March 9, 1790. Three great statements... but... is this topic about religion or the founding fathers? Cannot history and facts be discussed without consistently pushing ones belief system on another in their viewpoint? There are always viewpoints from both stances... stick to the topic at hand.. makes for a more enjoable and educational experience IMHO.

When the Constitution was being debated at the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin rose to say: “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see that God governs in the affairs of men. Without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.''

"Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them if we basely entail hereditary bondage on them." Thomas Jefferson"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." ~Thomas Jefferson Educate and inform the whole mass of the people they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty. ~ Thomas Jefferson"[T]he flames kindled on the 4th of July 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism."  "Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty."Samuel Adams "The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks."Samuel Adams "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." Samuel AdamsAny people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." ~  Benjamin FranklinWhere liberty dwells, there is my country.  ~Benjamin Franklin Thomas Paine, a voice of patriotism, said, ``Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, . . . , undergo the fatigue of supporting it.'' "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government." ~ Thomas Paine ``We have it within our power to begin the world over again.'' Thomas Paine. ``Our cause is noble??it is the cause of mankind!'' George Washington.George Washington knelt in prayer at Valley Forge and in the darkest days of U.S struggle for independence said that ``the fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die.'' Not long after the battle of Yorktown, Lafayette wrote home to France. ``Here,'' he said, ``humanity has won its battle, liberty now has a country.''John Adams wrote home from Philadelphia shortly before signing the Declaration of Independence, and he said, ``I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom, I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means -- and that Posterity will triumph -- ''.James Madison one of the prominent author of the U.S constitution stated that ``government was the greatest of all reflections on human nature.'' He wrote that ``if men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government,'' he said, ``which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed, and next oblige it to control itself.'' From various sources : Library of Congress,Friends and public forefathers papers.

Deism was a reaction to Calvinism and those who adhered to providence and predestination.

Deism was a reaction to Calvinism and those who adhered to providence and predestination.

Are you kidding ? Calvinisme was a tiny minority church.