LETTER: Blackham is right on
To the editor:
I am writing in support of Matthew Blackham’s excellent column from last Wednesday. I must say I find it interesting that the myriad of letters attacking Blackham haven’t really answered any of his primary points; that historically the conservative movement has always been against equality and civil rights advances. That if you were for these advances, advocated the helping for those less fortunate than yourself, and believed that religion is meant to be a personal spiritual philosophy, not a political wedge issue then you might just be a liberal.
As one might expect, it appears a few did not like the reflection in the mirror that he held up for them and have tried to change the discussion to say that the founders were practicing Christians. As for the beliefs of the founders, Blackham did not say they didn’t believe in God, in fact he said most were deists and radical visionaries, that believed that there were many faults with organized religion.
John Adams said “This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.”
Thomas Jefferson said “Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.”
James Madison said “Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise.”
Thomas Paine said “Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.”
As you can see, the founders’ opinions on this subject seem to make Blackham’s commentary quite tame by comparison. As for me, I would have to agree with George Washington when he said, “I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes.”
Again I would like to thank Matthew for his insights and I hope he keeps up the good work.
Jaydee Blackburn