DU This Poll: Would the Founding Fathers approve religious icons in govt

[Ian David]

http://www.historynet.com/

Total Votes: 3827

Do you believe America's founding fathers would approve or disapprove of the display of religious monuments in government facilities?

Approve: 51%

Disapprove: 43%

Don't Know: 5%




This morning, when I posted it in "Religious Freedom & Church-State Issues" the results were much, much worse:

Total Votes: 3173
Approve: 58%
Disapprove: 35%
Don't Know: 6%



Do you believe America's founding fathers would approve or disapprove of the display of religious monuments in government facilities?

http://www.historynet.com/

[justinsb]

1. Done & Kick

[shoelace414]

2. the founding fathers were not gods

[Melodybe]

3. Considering that Jefferson said he found no redeeming values in orthodox

christianity and that Franklin said that the virgin birth would one day be likened to Minerva sprouting from the head of Jupiter, I'll going out on a long shot and guessing that they would DISAPPROVE!!!

[longship]

4. Done and kick n/t

:kick:

[tk2kewl]

5. kick... history, however, should not be a matter of opinion

:kick:

[mmonk]

8. True

and done.
:kick:

[mzteris]

6. Jefferson Memorial

Has this quote:

Inscribed on Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. - 1826:
I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every
form of tyranny over the mind of man.

Funny thing is, this is an excerpt from a larger work:

The delusion into which the X. Y. Z. plot shows it possible to push the people; the successful experiment made under the prevalence of that delusion on the clause of the Constitution, which, while it secured the freedom of the press, covered also the freedom of religion, had given to the clergy a very favorite hope of obtaining an establishment of a particular form of Christianity through the United States; and as every sect believes its own form the true one, every one, perhaps hoped for his own, but especially the Episcopalians and Congregationalists. The returning good sense of our country threatens abortion to their hopes, and they believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exercised in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly; for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. " TITLE: To Dr. Benjamin Rush.
EDITION: Washington ed. iv, 336.
EDITION: Ford ed., vii, 460.
PLACE: Monticello
DATE: Sep. 1800


(I don't need to remind people that Jefferson's *God* is quite different from the "Christian" one, do I?)

[AllegroRondo]

7. up to 50% / 44%

[Rockholm]

9. THEY ARE DEAD!!!!!

I hate this conjecture bullshit. Who the heck knows? These talking heads should shut up and report news and stop trying to make the news.

[Q3JR4]

10. Um.... Hello...

If they would have approved it, we'd have an amendment saying as much.

:banghead:

Some people are stupid.

[Patty Diana]

11. I think these right wing fundamental born again jebus freaks would

do very well in bin Laden's world. Him and shrub are 2 peas in a pod. Oh but I forget_these fuckers are to stupid to see it

[Nashyra]

12. Kick

48% to 47%

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. Disapprove 49%....Approve: 46% ...Don't know 3%

[brentspeak]

14. No need even to speculate

The founders made their views on such matters clear as crystal: when Patrick Henry argued that the words "Jesus Christ" and "Christianity" be inserted in the Constitution, the other founders gave the idea a complete thumb's down.

There's a Religious Right guy, David Barton of Wallbuilders, who's made a career out of manufacturing stories about how "Jefferson really was a Christian," the "Founders wanted a Christian nation", etc. He's been caught publishing made-up quotes of James Madison and a few others.

[blondeatlast]

15. Pssssssssst...

You can vote mo...

Prrrst, Bligg, Help...!

(It works...)

[PretzelWarrior]

16. one of the stupider polls I've ever seen on a political issue

how about...

...would Jesus have approved of the war in Iraq?

[Lecky]

17. Approve: 46%, Disapprove: 49%, Don't Know: 4%

Total Votes: 4624

[tibbir]

18. Done - I'm glad to see it turned around for now.

[really annoyed]

19. Done

:)