We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all 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 Almanack, 1743

©

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 RevolutionWhen 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, 1743If 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 complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the pagans, but practiced it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England blamed persecution in the Romish Church, but practiced it upon the Puritans. These found it wrong in the bishops, but fell into the same practice themselves both here and in New England.-- Benjamin Franklin, An Essay on TolerationLighthouses are more helpful than churches.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)He [the Rev Mr. Whitefield] used, indeed, sometimes to pray for my conversion, but never had the satisfaction of believing that his prayers were heard.-- Benjamin Franklin, from Franklin's Autobiography[Excerpt]:"A little Religion, and a little Honesty, goes a great way in Courts."-- 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 ††[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 ††Indeed, when religious people quarrel about religion, or hungry people quarrel about victuals, it looks as if they had not much of either among them.-- Benjamin Franklin quoted joseph Joseph Lewis, "Benjamin Franklin -- Freethinker"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.-- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania. "This sentence was much used in the Revolutionary period. It occurs even so early as November, 1755, in an answer by the Assembly of Pennsylvania to the Governor, and forms the motto of Franklin's 'Historical Review,' 1759, appearing also in the body of the work." -- Frothingham: Rise of the Republic of the United States, p. 413.Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)We must hang together, gentlemen ... else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)

©

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)American public official, writer, scientist, and printer who played a major part in the American RevolutionWhen 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, 1743If 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 complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the pagans,

but practiced it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England blamed persecution in the Romish Church, but

practiced it upon the Puritans. These found it wrong in the bishops, but fell into the same practice themselves both here and

in New England.-- Benjamin Franklin, An Essay on TolerationLighthouses are

more helpful than churches.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)He [the Rev Mr. Whitefield] used, indeed, sometimes to pray for my conversion, but never had the satisfaction of believing that his prayers were

heard.-- Benjamin Franklin, from Franklin's Autobiography[Excerpt]:

"A little Religion, and a little Honesty, goes a great way in Courts."-- 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 ††[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 ††Indeed, when religious people quarrel about religion, or hungry people quarrel about victuals, it looks as if they had not much of either

among them.-- Benjamin Franklin quoted joseph Joseph Lewis, "Benjamin Franklin -- Freethinker"In this world nothing can be said to be

certain, except death and taxes.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)They that can

give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

-- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania. "This sentence was much used in the Revolutionary period. It occurs

even so early as November, 1755, in an answer by the Assembly of Pennsylvania to the Governor, and forms the motto of

Franklin's 'Historical Review,' 1759, appearing also in the body of the work." -- Frothingham: Rise of the Republic of the United

States, p. 413.Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.

-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)We must hang

together, gentlemen ... else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.

-- Benjamin Franklin (attributed: source unknown)

©

Razelle Frankel

American writerA 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