Importance of Morality and Religion in Government

[southerngale]

The quotes are in red.

John Adams
Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Second President of the United States

It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.

(Source: John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown, 1854), Vol. IX, p. 401, to Zabdiel Adams on June 21, 1776.)


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We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

(Source: John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co. 1854), Vol. IX, p. 229, October 11, 1798.)


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The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If "Thou shalt not covet," and "Thou shalt not steal," were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.

(Source: John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851), Vol. VI, p. 9.)


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John Quincy Adams

Sixth President of the United States

The law given from Sinai was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code; it contained many statutes . . . of universal application-laws essential to the existence of men in society, and most of which have been enacted by every nation which ever professed any code of laws.

(Source: John Quincy Adams, Letters of John Quincy Adams, to His Son, on the Bible and Its Teachings (Auburn: James M. Alden, 1850), p. 61.)


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There are three points of doctrine the belief of which forms the foundation of all morality. The first is the existence of God; the second is the immortality of the human soul; and the third is a future state of rewards and punishments. Suppose it possible for a man to disbelieve either of these three articles of faith and that man will have no conscience, he will have no other law than that of the tiger or the shark. The laws of man may bind him in chains or may put him to death, but they never can make him wise, virtuous, or happy.

(Source: John Quincy Adams, Letters of John Quincy Adams to His Son on the Bible and Its Teachings (Auburn: James M. Alden, 1850), pp. 22-23.)


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Samuel Adams

Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.

(Source: William V. Wells, The Life and Public Service of Samuel Adams (Boston: Little, Brown, & Co., 1865), Vol. I, p. 22, quoting from a political essay by Samuel Adams published in The Public Advertiser, 1749.)


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Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Signer of the Declaration of Independence

Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime & pure, and which denounces against the wicked eternal misery, and which insured to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.

(Source: Bernard C. Steiner, The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry (Cleveland: The Burrows Brothers, 1907), p. 475. In a letter from Charles Carroll to James McHenry of November 4, 1800.)


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Benjamin Franklin

Signer of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

Source: Benjamin Franklin, The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, Jared Sparks, editor (Boston: Tappan, Whittemore and Mason, 1840), Vol. X, p. 297, April 17, 1787.


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I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that "except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from tis unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one of more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.

(Source: James Madison, The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, Max Farrand, editor (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1911), Vol. I, pp. 450-452, June 28, 1787.)


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Thomas Jefferson

Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Third President of the United States

Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for your to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you. Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly. Encourage all you virtuous dispositions, and exercise them whenever an opportunity arises, being assured that they will gain strength by exercise, as a limb of the body does, and that exercise will make them habitual. From the practice of the purest virtue, you may be assured you will derive the most sublime comforts in every moment of life, and in the moment of death.

(Source: Thomas Jefferson, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Albert Bergh, editor (Washington, D.C.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Assoc., 1903), Vol. 5, pp. 82-83, in a letter to his nephew Peter Carr on August 19, 1785.)


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The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of mankind.

(Source: Thomas Jefferson, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Albert Bergh, editor (Washington, D. C.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Assoc., 1904), Vol. XV, p. 383.)


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I concur with the author in considering the moral precepts of Jesus as more pure, correct, and sublime than those of ancient philosophers.

(Source: Thomas Jefferson, The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Albert Bergh, editor (Washington, D. C.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Assoc., 1904), Vol. X, pp. 376-377. In a letter to Edward Dowse on April 19, 1803.)


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Richard Henry Lee

Signer of the Declaration of Independence

It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.

(Source: Richard Henry Lee, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, James Curtis Ballagh, editor (New York: The MacMillan Company, 1914), Vol. II, p. 411. In a letter to Colonel Mortin Pickett on March 5, 1786.)


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James McHenry


Signer of the Constitution

Public utility pleads most forcibly for the general distribution of the Holy Scriptures. The doctrine they preach, the obligations they impose, the punishment they threaten, the rewards they promise, the stamp and image of divinity they bear, which produces a conviction of their truths, can alone secure to society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses, and at the same time enjoy quiet conscience.

Source: Bernard C. Steiner, One Hundred and Ten Years of Bible Society Work in Maryland, 1810-1920 (Maryland Bible Society, 1921), p. 14.


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Jedediah Morse


Patriot and "Father of American Geography"

To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. . . . Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all blessings which flow from them, must fall with them.

(Source: Jedediah Morse, Election Sermon given at Charleston, MA, on April 25, 1799.)


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William Penn

Founder of Pennsylvania

It is impossible that any people of government should ever prosper, where men render not unto God, that which is God's, as well as to Caesar, that which is Caesar's.

(Source: Fundamental Constitutions of Pennsylvania, 1682. Written by William P

[azskyman]

Interesting quotes.

Funny how people can turn such information into discussions of separation of church and state. And then they get SO negative. They perceive that anyone in government who has a spiritual compass must be stamped out. Wonder what they fear so much?

Truth is...the character of a country is a reflection of its people's overall character. And that fiber needs balanced elements of fairness, openness, humility, hard work, problem-solving, morality, ethics, caring, AND spirituality.

[southerngale]

I agree skyman. It's really sad to see how they twist everything our founding fathers said to benefit their argument of 'separation of church and state'

This country was founded on Christian principles....In God We Trust.

[streetsoldier]

Once more into the breach...

There IS no "separation of church and state clause" in the Constitution of the United States of America.

This phrase was 'lifted' by the Warren Supreme Court from a letter written by then-President Thomas Jefferson in 1803 to a group of Baptists in Maryland, who, fearing that the largely-Catholic state would set forth the Roman Church as its "state religion", petitioned Jefferson for protection. The President replied that NO state, or Federal government could, Constitutionally do this, and mentioned "a wall of separation of church and state" as PROTECTING freedom of conducting one's faith against any incursions by any state, or Federal entities...in sum, freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM it...and it was understood that public display of faith, whereever it took place, was and still IS Constitutionally protected...that's right, even in our schools, courts, legislatures, etc.

"Now you know...the REST..of...the story!"

[WidreMann]

It is important nonetheless to keep religion out of the general policy of the government because that is not it's job. We all recoil in shock when we hear about the fundamentalist regimes in the middle east where religion and government are practically one and the same. That's not what we want here. We want freedom to practice whatever religions we want - that is, freedom from the government interfering in the religious affairs of it's constituency (except in cases where boundaries are crossed - say if a religion believed in killing other human beings or being cruel to animals). But that necessitates that the government itself is neutral and separate from any given religion - a separation of church and state. Whether or not there is actually a law, clause or amendment in the constitution to that effect, or whether the founding fathers were Christians or not is really just a red herring. The fact of the matter is, the policy is separation of church and state and it's a good policy.

[WidreMann]

But, as streetsoldier points out, it is freedom OF religion and not freedom FROM it. That is, though, a very general statement. The question is to what degree does freedom OF any person to be involved in any religion require freedom FROM others publicly practicing another religion. In general terms, that must be considered, but on a case by case basis, it seems that most of the people who complain either a) are truly easily offended or b) like forcing other people to do things against their will by using the government. I can't see that there are actually that many people in group a (I mean honestly, how many people truly are shocked and horrified when they see a Christmas tree in the middle of the town? And Christmas in this country is practically a non-religious activity anyways (Santa Claus is NOT a Christian symbol), what the heck is these people's problem?), so it is mostly those who are "looking out" for the people in group a and thus happen to fall in group b. Anyways, I think I digressing a bit here, but the point is: yes, we need a clear separation of church and state and we need to be careful about religion in public with respect to government activity, BUT, we can't go overboard either. If everybody wants to pray at a football game except for three, it would be fitting for those three to simply not pray and endure 1 whole minute of whatever blinding pain they are in and then enjoy the game. Is it worth it to raise such a ruckus over a harmless prayer?