--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our fathers founded the first secular…" description: "\"Our fathers founded the first secular government that was ever founded in this world. Recollect that. The first secular government - the first governme..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/robert-green-ingersoll-361_church_our-fathers-founded-the-first-secular-go_2318979.png" --- # Our fathers founded the first secular government that was… ![“Our fathers founded the first secular government that was ever founded in this world. Recollect that. The first secular government - the first government that said every church has exactly the same rights and no more; every religion has the same rights, and no more.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/robert-green-ingersoll-361_church_our-fathers-founded-the-first-secular-go_2318979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/robert-green-ingersoll-361_church_our-fathers-founded-the-first-secular-go_2318979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67f/robert-green-ingersoll-361_church_our-fathers-founded-the-first-secular-go_2318979.png) > “Our fathers founded the first secular government that was ever founded in this world. Recollect that. The first secular government - the first government that said every church has exactly the same rights and no more; every religion has the same rights, and no more.” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The first secular government asserted equal rights for all religions, establishing a neutral state stance. **In simple terms:** Secularism ensures equal religious rights. Key Takeaway Support policies that separate church and state. Themes secularism equality government Mood thoughtful assertive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public policy - education curricula - legal reforms - civil rights activism Key Concepts political theory human rights law Questions to Reflect On - How can societies maintain religious neutrality? - What benefits arise from equal religious rights? A Different Perspective Secularism can face strong opposition from religious groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [It is contended by many that ours is a Christian government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon the book as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-is-contended-by-many-that-ours-is-a-christian-government-founded-2/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [It may not be easy, in every possible case, to trace the line of separation between the rights of religion and the Civil authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-not-be-easy-in-every-possible-case-to-trace-the-line-of-2/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The Church of Christ is constituted in two orders, the clergy and the people, the one having the care of the Church that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-becket/the-church-of-christ-is-constituted-in-two-orders-the-clergy-and-the/) [Thomas Becket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-becket/) > [People in the Middle East, people everywhere, want peace. But unfortunately too many fail to recognize that that lasting peace can only be found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/people-in-the-middle-east-people-everywhere-want-peace-but/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [“It may not be easy, in every possible case, to trace the line of separation between the rights of religion and the Civil authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-not-be-easy-in-every-possible-case-to-trace-the-line-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It is wrong for a secular government to promote prayer. We think the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. What if the president declared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/it-is-wrong-for-a-secular-government-to-promote-prayer-we-think-the/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [We should remember that the Declaration of Independence is not merely a historical document. It is an explicit recognition that our rights derive not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-should-remember-that-the-declaration-of-independence-is-not-merely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Government itself is founded upon the great doctrine of the consent of the governed, and has its cornerstone in the memorable principle that men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-stanford/government-itself-is-founded-upon-the-great-doctrine-of-the-consent/) [Leland Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-stanford/) > [True liberal government is founded on the emancipation of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/true-liberal-government-is-founded-on-the-emancipation-of-men/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [All government is founded on compromise and banter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/all-government-is-founded-on-compromise-and-banter/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [It is on opinion only that government is founded; and this maxim extends to the most despotic and most military governments, as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/it-is-on-opinion-only-that-government-is-founded-and-this-maxim/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [A government, founded on impartial liberty, where all have a voice and a vote, irrespective of color or of sex--what is there to hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-government-founded-on-impartial-liberty-where-all-have-a-voice-and/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/a-prohibition-law-strikes-a-blow-at-the-very-principles-upon-which/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Robert Green Ingersoll > [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [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/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. 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Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. 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It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. 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