Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise.... During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution. James Madison
About This Quote

Thomas Jefferson in a letter to a Christian in the year 1802, in a letter dated 17 December 1802, wrote: “Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise. ...” In this quote, Jefferson was expressing his discontent with the religion that had been imposed on him as an American citizen. He believed that the religion of his day was one of ignorance and superstition.

Source: A Memorial And Remonstrance, On The Religious Rights Of Man: Written In 178485

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  1. Philosophy is common sense with big words.
  2. Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind, and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect.]
  3. The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.]
  4. Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and government will both exist...
  5. Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise.... During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance...
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