--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Disestablishment was] the best thing…" description: "\"[Disestablishment was] the best thing that ever happened to the state of Connecticut. It cut the churches loose from dependence on state support. It th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/lyman-beecher-47390_atheism_disestablishment-was-the-best-thing-that_927620.png" --- # \[Disestablishment was\] the best thing that ever happened… ![“[Disestablishment was] the best thing that ever happened to the state of Connecticut. It cut the churches loose from dependence on state support. It threw them wholly on their own resources and on God.” quote by Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/lyman-beecher-47390_atheism_disestablishment-was-the-best-thing-that_927620.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/lyman-beecher-47390_atheism_disestablishment-was-the-best-thing-that_927620.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/lyman-beecher-47390_atheism_disestablishment-was-the-best-thing-that_927620.png) > “\[Disestablishment was\] the best thing that ever happened to the state of Connecticut. It cut the churches loose from dependence on state support. It threw them wholly on their own resources and on God.” [Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-beecher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Removing state support forced churches to become self‑sufficient, reshaping religious and civic life. **In simple terms:** Disestablishment led churches to independence. Key Takeaway Recognize the impact of separating church and state. Themes religion politics history independence Mood reflective serious Type historical analytical When to use this quote - Policy reform - non‑profit management - faith‑based initiatives Key Concepts secularism institutional autonomy community resilience Questions to Reflect On - How did disestablishment affect community services? - What lessons apply to modern church‑state relations? A Different Perspective May ignore challenges churches faced during transition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Connecticut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connecticut/) [Connecticut Cut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connecticut-cut-1484741/) [Cut Churches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cut-churches-1484740/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Dependence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependence/) [Disestablishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disestablishment-1484738/) [Disestablishment Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disestablishment-best-1484739/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Separation between church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-between-church-and-state/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [State Connecticut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-connecticut-1484742/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [ \[The disestablishment of religion\] may not have been such a good idea. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/the-disestablishment-of-religion-may-not-have-been-such-a-good-idea/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [I grew up outside of DC, New York state, and Connecticut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-coleman/i-grew-up-outside-of-dc-new-york-state-and-connecticut/) [Jim Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-coleman/) > [You know, the state of Connecticut is... sometimes it's a provincial state. And I've been working very hard to get the endorsement of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcmahon/you-know-the-state-of-connecticut-is-sometimes-it-s-a-provincial/) [Linda McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcmahon/) > [I've had the school of hard knocks, and I've worked my way up to be the governor of this great state of Connecticut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-neill/i-ve-had-the-school-of-hard-knocks-and-i-ve-worked-my-way-up-to-be/) [William O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-neill/) > [The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-day-will-come-when-the-mystical-generation-of-jesus-by-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[I\]t would be unjust to our people and dangerous to our institutions to apply any portion of revenues of the nation or of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/i-t-would-be-unjust-to-our-people-and-dangerous-to-our-institutions/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Church and state should be separate, not only in form, but fact - religion and politics should not be mingled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-fillmore/church-and-state-should-be-separate-not-only-in-form-but-fact/) [Millard Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-fillmore/) > [I would suggest the taxation of all property equally whether church or corporation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-would-suggest-the-taxation-of-all-property-equally-whether-church/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed-to-him-i-e-jesus-by-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Church and state are, and must remain, separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/church-and-state-are-and-must-remain-separate/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/rulers-who-wished-to-subvert-the-public-liberty-may-have-found-an/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Lyman Beecher > [We may form free constitutions, but our vices will destroy them; we may enact laws, but they will not protect us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-beecher/we-may-form-free-constitutions-but-our-vices-will-destroy-them-we-may/) [Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-beecher/) > [Eloquence is logic on fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-beecher/eloquence-is-logic-on-fire/) [Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-beecher/) > [No great advance has ever been made in science, politics, or religion, without controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-beecher/no-great-advance-has-ever-been-made-in-science-politics-or-religion/) [Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-beecher/) > [Never chase a lie. 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When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. 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