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Religion Quotes by James Madison

88 Religion quotes by James Madison

All Religion quotes James Madison’s page

Strongly guarded as is the separation between Religion and Government. James Madison argues that a just government does not need clergy and that religious liberty is an inalienable right based on personal evidence. He warns that any attempt to let the state favor one faith threatens the freedom of all citizens.

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Religion [is] the basis and foundation of Government

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An oath-the strongest of religious ties.

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Religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Government.

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Union of religious sentiments begets a surprising confidence.

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Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption

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A just government has no need for the clergy or the church.

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I have ever regarded the freedom of religious opinions and worship as equally belonging to every sect.

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The civil government ... functions with complete success ... by the total separation of the Church from the State.

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The establishment of the chaplainship to Congress is a palpable violation of ... constitutional principles.

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Are not the daily devotions conducted by these legal ecclesiastics already degenerating into a scanty attendance, and a tiresome formality?

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A local spirit will infallibly prevail much more in the members of Congress than a national spirit will prevail in the legislatures…

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There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermingle with religion. Its least interference with it would be…

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In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights.

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The Constitution of the U.S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion.

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The general government is proscribed from the interfering, in any manner whatsoever, in matters respecting religion; and it may be thought to…

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That diabolical Hell conceived principle of persecution rages amoung some and to their eternal Infamy the Clergy can furnish their Quota of…

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And may I not be allowed to ... read in the character of the American people, in their devotion to true liberty…

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Strongly guarded as is the separation between Religion and Government in the Constitution of the United States, the danger of encroachment by…

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During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in…

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...Freedom arises from the multiplicity of sects, which prevades America and which is the best and only security for religious liberty in…

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Because we hold it for 'a fundamental and undeniable truth', that religion or 'the duty which we owe to our Creator' and…

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Torrents of blood have been spilt in the world in vain attempts of the secular arm to extinguish religious discord, by proscribing…

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In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. ...under the republican forms…

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Because the bill vests in the said incorporated church an authority to provide for the support of the poor and the education…

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The danger of silent accumulations & encroachments by Ecclesiastical Bodies have not sufficiently engaged attention in the U.S. [...] Besides the danger…

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[T]he bill exceeds the rightful authority to which governments are limited by the essential distinction between civil and religious functions, and violates…

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Because finally, 'the equal right of every citizen to the free exercise of his religion according to the dictates of conscience' is…

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Whilst we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess and observe the Religion which we believe to be of divine…

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“Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have…

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“It may not be easy, in every possible case, to trace the line of separation between the rights of religion and the…

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“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to…

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Freedom arises from a multiplicity of sects, which pervades America, and is the best and only security for religious liberty in America.

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

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No power over the freedom of religion [is] delegated to the United States by the Constitution.

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“Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprize, every expanded prospect.”

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In no instance have... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.

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[Restraints on the press] in all ages, have debauched morals, depressed liberty, shackled religion, supported despotism, and deluged the scaffold with blood.

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[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

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[Christianity] existed and flourishes, not only without the support of human laws, but in spite of every opposition from them.

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Every new and successful example of a perfect separation between ecclesiastical and civil matters is of importance.

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More by James Madison

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A…

Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate…

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments…

How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…

It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country…

Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such…

The definition of the right of suffrage is very justly regarded as a fundamental article of republican government.

The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded.

They can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass…

The effect of a representative democracy is to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body…

“... But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government , there is an evil which ought to be guarded…

Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…

“It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government…

The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion…