We must all hang together or assuredly we

We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall hang separately. …at the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Humanity and the Sciences are the greatest inventions of the human race – nationalism and patriotism its worst

Humanity and the Sciences are the greatest inventions of the human race – nationalism and patriotism its worst Wherever those enemies of liberty – belief and certainty are venerated

Humanity and the Sciences are the greatest inventions of the human race – nationalism and patriotism its worst Wherever those enemies of liberty – belief and certainty are venerated do not expect progress in the Sciences or in Understanding Humanity

When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one. -- Benjamin Franklin, letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780, quoted from Adrienne Koch, ed. , The American Enlightenment: The Shaping of the American Experiment and a Free Society, New York: George Braziller, 1965, p. 93. ©

The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason: The Morning Daylight appears plainer when you put out your Candle. -- Benjamin Franklin, the incompatibility of faith and reason, Poor Richard's Almanack (1758) I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies. -- Benjamin Franklin, quoted from Victor J Stenger, Has Science Found God? (2001) Many a long dispute among divines may be thus abridged: It is so; It is not so. It is so; it is not so. -- Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's ©

I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies. -- Benjamin Franklin, quoted from Victor J Stenger, Has Science Found God? (2001) ©

Lighthouses are more helpful than churches. -- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown) Excerpt]: "But the most dangerous Hypocrite in a Common-Wealth, is one who leaves the Gospel for the sake of the Law: A Man compounded of Law and Gospel, is able to cheat a whole Country with his Religion, and then destroy them under Colour of Law: And here the Clergy are in great Danger of being deceiv'd, and the People of being deceiv'd by the Clergy, until the Monster arrives to such Power and Wealth, that he is out of the reach of both, and can oppress the People without their own blind Assistance. " -- Benjamin Franklin, comparing the politicized clergyman with the regular clergyman, a thing which a few have ventured to do in recent times (Ahem!), quoted in The New England Currant (July 23, 1722), "Silence Dogood, No. 9; Corruptio optimi est pessima. " quoted from The History Carper, thanks to Ben for the tip! †† ©

Passage]: "This Political Description of a Hypocrite, may (for ought I know) be taken for a new Doctrine by some of your Readers; but let them consider, that a little Religion, and a little Honesty, goes a great way in Courts. 'Tis not inconsistent with Charity to distrust a Religious Man in Power, tho' he may be a good Man; he has many Temptations "to propagate publick Destruction for Personal Advantages and Security: " And if his Natural Temper be covetous, and his Actions often contradict his pious Discourse, we may with great Reason conclude, that he has some other Design in his Religion besides barely getting to Heaven. "But the most dangerous Hypocrite in a Common-Wealth, is one who leaves the Gospel for the sake of the Law: A Man compounded of Law and Gospel, is able to cheat a whole Country with his Religion, and then destroy them under Colour of Law: And here the Clergy are in great Danger of being deceiv'd, and the People of being deceiv'd by the Clergy, until the Monster arrives to such Power and Wealth, that he is out of the reach of both, and can oppress the People without their own blind Assistance. ©

. "And it is a sad Observation, that when the People too late see their Error, yet the Clergy still persist in their Encomiums on the Hypocrite; and when he happens to die for the Good of his Country, without leaving behind him the Memory of one good Action, he shall be sure to have his Funeral Sermon stuff'd with Pious Expressions which he dropt at such a Time, and at such a Place, and on such an Occasion; than which nothing can be more prejudicial to the Interest of Religion, nor indeed to the Memory of the Person deceas'd. The Reason of this Blindness in the Clergy is, because they are honourably supported (as they ought to be) by their People, and see nor feel nothing of the Oppression which is obvious and burdensome to every one else. “ -- Benjamin Franklin, comparing the politicized clergyman with the regular clergyman, a thing which a few have ventured to do in recent times (Ahem!), quoted in The New England Currant (July 23, 1722), "Silence Dogood, No. 9; Corruptio optimi est pessima. " quoted from The History Carper, critical editing for readability and PAM Style Sheet conformity is © 2003 Cliff Walker †† ©

Benjamin Franklin (1706 -1790) American public official, writer, scientist, and printer who played a major part in the American Revolution. When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one. -- Benjamin Franklin, letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780, quoted from Adrienne Koch, ed. , The American Enlightenment: The Shaping of the American Experiment and a Free Society, New York: George Braziller, 1965, p. 93. The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason: The Morning Daylight appears plainer when you put out your Candle. -- Benjamin Franklin, the incompatibility of faith and reason, Poor Richard's Almanack (1758)I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies. -- Benjamin Franklin, quoted from Victor J Stenger, Has Science Found God? (2001)Many a long dispute among divines may be thus abridged: It is so; It is not so. It is so; it is not so. -- Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1743 If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and©

Benjamin Franklin (1706 -1790) American public official, writer, scientist, and printer who played a major part in the American Revolution. When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one. -- Benjamin Franklin, letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780, quoted from Adrienne Koch, ed. , The American Enlightenment: The Shaping of the American Experiment and a Free Society, New York: George Braziller, 1965, p. 93. The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason: The Morning Daylight appears plainer when you put out your Candle. -- Benjamin Franklin, the incompatibility of faith and reason, Poor Richard's Almanack (1758)I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies. -- Benjamin Franklin, quoted from Victor J Stenger, Has Science Found God? (2001)Many a long dispute among divines may be thus abridged: It is so; It is not so. It is so; it is not so. ©

Razelle Frankel American writer A country dominated by televangelism would be unrecognizable to the Founding Fathers, who envisioned religion as personal and spiritual, not social and political. No particular variety of religion was intended to control the political agenda, to set the community's moral tone or to judge who are the true believers and members of our society. But this is precisely the objective of the electric church. -- Razelle Frankel, Televangelism (1987), quoted from Albert J Menendez and Edd Doerr, The Great Quotations on Religious Freedom ©