founding fathers and relgion

[Shrykull]

Ok, so they were mostly deists, but what was thier attitude toward christianity and relgion in general, it seems like they were impartial, they didn't care for religion and had none themselves but it doesn't seem like something they wanted to oppress/suppress, giving people the right to choose thier own religion.
I see a lot of aggresive atheists think that religion is nothing more than a harmful delusion, something you depend on and if you were to lose would have nervous breakdown (on that note, anyone ever know anyone who did lose thier religion and commit suicide because they couldn't bear the thought of no afterlife, even though yes, it would make thier existence even shorter) I remember Mike saying that the irrational can have a role in life like romantic love, though I'm not sure people who say that's irrational, caring more about someone else then you do about yourself, even willing to sacrifice yourself for them.

[Joe]

Ok, so they were mostly deists, but what was thier attitude toward christianity and relgion in general, it seems like they were impartial, they didn't care for religion and had none themselves but it doesn't seem like something they wanted to oppress/suppress, giving people the right to choose thier own religion.
I see a lot of aggresive atheists think that religion is nothing more than a harmful delusion, something you depend on and if you were to lose would have nervous breakdown (on that note, anyone ever know anyone who did lose thier religion and commit suicide because they couldn't bear the thought of no afterlife, even though yes, it would make thier existence even shorter) I remember Mike saying that the irrational can have a role in life like romantic love, though I'm not sure people who say that's irrational, caring more about someone else then you do about yourself, even willing to sacrifice yourself for them.

See the stickified post by BlkBerry at the top of the SLAM forum for stuff on the Founding Fathers & religion.

Romantic love may be a little bit irrational, but at least you have something to go on to induce you to believe that it is real; the feelings of love and care expressed towards you by your partner. With God, you have nothing like this.