Yeah let's not. There's absolutely no point to 'karma whoring' in the fediverse. That's what the downvote button is for, even if we agree with the message they're sending.
While I agree with them in this case, why do we care what the founders thought? Originalism is not a real philosophy, just a weak appeal to authority regarding a group of people that did not and cannot represent the people of the modern world.
It's the "conservatives" that keep making those appeals to authority. Founding fathers this and founding fathers that, because they have no real arguments. Showing that even those arguments are fallacious is justified.
Most of the people I know make the argument that this has ALWAYS been a Christian nation which I'm quick to point out that it was designed to be separated because of their own experiences being persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Having these quotes with some legitimate sources would be fantastic argument material for me though. Hoping someone digs these up as I can't at the moment.
“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.”
I agree with them, although I'm a little bemused by the characterization of Judaism as intending to terrify people into obedience... How do you do that with no religious power structure, no hell and no nebulous punishment for breaking the rules? It's a religion whose 'teeth' are, "Your mother would prefer if you did it."
I think it's a nice reminder that extreme people often necessarily disregard nuance in pursuit of their ultimate goals. When every state is religious and every state is tyranical, why bother trying to pick out a few good apples when that would only further jam the gears of progress?
FYI it's not the "old testament" to Jews, and since there is no God, he hasn't popped out of the woodwork to have the earth swallow any of us in the last 2,500 years or so... so no one is really worried he's going to.
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, had complex and sometimes controversial views on religion. He is often described as a deist.
John Adams, the second President of the United States, was a deeply religious individual and held strong Christian beliefs throughout his life. He was raised in a devout Congregationalist (Puritan) household and maintained his religious convictions as an adult.
Thomas Paine, an influential figure during the American Revolution and a key advocate of republican principles, had unorthodox religious views that can be described as Deistic and skeptical of organized religion.
James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, was known for being a man of deep religious conviction. He was raised in an Anglican household and maintained a strong religious faith throughout his life.
This principle was enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing a state religion and guarantees the free exercise of religion. Many modern activists claim that the conservatives are trying to enforce their religion on others, when the reality of the situation is that, killing unborn babies is immoral, and people from nearly ALL religions try to evangelize. These activists also don't realize that they themselves are trying to force a state religion and evangelize, that religion being, LGBTism.
Identity and Belonging: LGBTism often involves a strong sense of identity and belonging. Individuals may find support, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose, just as found in religious communities.
Community and Rituals: Both religion and the LGBTism involve communal gatherings, celebrations, and rituals. Both communities often have regular worship gatherings, ceremonies, and festivals that bring people together.
Shared Values and Ethics: Just as religious communities often have shared values, moral codes, and ethical principles that guide their actions, LGBTism also emphasizes certain lack of values and moral codes shared by the community.
Activism and Advocacy: Both religion and the LGBTism have a history of activism and advocacy for social change. Both have been involved in various social justice movements throughout history, advocating for equality, peace, and human rights.
Personal Transformation: Religion often involves personal transformation, spiritual growth, and a journey of self-discovery. Likewise, LGBTism involves a process of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and personal growth.
Accepting gay people as humans with rights isn't a religion, it's just basic decency. There is not such a thing as LGBTQism, there is just an ever shrinking space in polite society that is tolerant to bigotry against them. In time bigotry against them will be an automatic disinvitation from polite society.
Calling abortion immoral IS your religious ideology and was generally a weird fringe belief of puritans and Catholics before right wing radicals in America made it the corner stone of their culture wars.
Your attempt to recontextualize the quotes from these people which clearly advocated for the separation of church and state and for not making policy based on religious ideas as somehow being endorsements of any religious ideology is insincere and fails to respect the nature of their beliefs or the words they so clearly stated.
Feel free to create a list of rights which normal US citizens have but gay persons lack...
The immorality of abortion is in almost all religions, not what ever you think my religion is... Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and Catholicism all consider abortion as the harming of another individual. Simply deciding to not follow any religion does not exclude an individual from the laws regarding murder.
The founders of the United States, who were influenced by the Enlightenment era and its ideals of individual rights and religious tolerance, sought to establish a government that would avoid the pitfalls they witnessed in theocratic monarchies of their time. Many of the founding fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin, were well-versed in history and understood the dangers of intertwining religious authority with political power. They had witnessed firsthand the conflicts, oppression, and persecution that arose from state-enforced religious doctrines and the influence of religious institutions on government affairs.
By establishing a secular government, the founding fathers aimed to create a society where individuals could freely practice their faith, or choose not to follow any religion, without fear of persecution or coercion. They sought to prevent the dominance of a single religious group and the potential for religious strife that they had witnessed in Europe. This has allowed for a diverse society with a wide range of religious beliefs to coexist, and it has fostered a culture of religious tolerance and individual freedom that continues to be an important aspect of American society today.