"I am really mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, a fact like this can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too, as an offence against religion; that a question about the sale of a book can be carried before the civil magistrate. Is this then our freedom of religion? and are we to have a censor whose imprimatur shall say what books may be sold, and what we may buy? And who is thus to dogmatize religious opinions for our citizens? Whose foot is to be the measure to which ours are all to be cut or stretched? Is a priest to be our inquisitor, or shall a layman, simple as ourselves, set up his reason as the rule for what we are to read, and what we must believe? It is an insult to our citizens to question whether they are rational beings or not, and blasphemy against religion to suppose it cannot stand the test of truth and reason."
by:
Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
Source:
Letter, 19 April 1814
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Excellent quote, from an era passing?
 -- John S, Dog Patch     
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     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US      
     -- Me Again      
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI      
    From the mind of a real citizen of the world as shown here to the illiteracy and imbecility in our present occupier of the world's most powerful seat.
     -- Dick Trice, Fort Worth     
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    Anyone who believes that W is a christian has certainly not been paying attention.
     -- Rodney, Hereford, TX     
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     -- Ronw13, ID      

    Marx’s base understanding was that “religion” was/is the opiate of the people so, he structured his form of socialism to be defined as that which defines religion (a system by values, morals, ethics, etc.) “My object in life is to dethrone God and destroy capitalism.” (Karl Marx) Applied socialism through the lens of a “should be” (morals, ethics, etc.) is a theocracy that can not allow any competing religions. The differing adaptations and administrations of socialism all declare the quote's sentiment.

    "Socialism is precisely the religion that must overwhelm Christianity.⋯ In the new order, Socialism will triumph by first capturing the culture via infiltration of schools, universities, churches and the media by transforming the consciousness of society.” (Antonio Gramsci, (1891-1937) Italian Marxist theoretician and politician, creator of the Communist Party in Italy; “class warrior” Source: 1915) {Theocratic socialism from a communist perspective.}

    Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister further clarified the religious state and concept by stating: “⋯ Socialism is a religion. All we lack is a religious genius capable of uprooting outmoded religious practices and putting new ones in their place. We lack traditions and ritual. One day soon National Socialism will be the religion of all Germans. My Party is my church, and I believe I serve the Lord best if I do his will, and liberate my oppressed people from the fetters of slavery. That is my gospel.” (Joseph Goebbels Diary entry for October 16, 1928)

    The occupying statist theocracy now infesting this land is an escalating fulfillment of the here quote’s prophetic accuracy.


     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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     -- Jim K, Austin      
     
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