Mark Small

Puritans in Massachusetts arrived, then promptly discriminated against “heretics” such as Quakers. Puritans hanged 4 Quakers for beliefs were viewed as heretical. 7/24

Martin Luther sparked the Reformation. The 100 Years War ensued. As Mick Jagger sang, in “Sympathy for the Devil”: “I watched with glee/while your kings and queens/fought for ten decades for the god they made.” 8/24

The Framers were disillusioned by religion. They proscribed affirmation to a deity in the oaths of office for members of Congress and the judiciary (U.S. Const., http://Art.VI , cl 3) and President. (U.S. Const. Art. II, sec. 1.) 9/24

Madison: “door of this part of the federal government is open to merit of every description, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession of religious faith.” Federalist 52 10/24

Our society is pluralistic w/more religions than Beckwith’s April, 2018, Pew Research Center survey found 1/3 of Americans dont believe in “God of the Bible” but do believe there is some other higher power or spiritual force in universe. 11/24

Slim majority of Americans (56%) say they believe in God ‘as described in the Bible’ & 1 in 10 do not believe in any higher power or spiritual force. My concerns have been voiced by other who are conservative: 12/24

“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [GOP], 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. ... 13/24

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.” -Sen. Barry Goldwater, seen by some as the father of modern conservatism. (and Alice Cooper's neighbor)14/24