All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
– Thomas Paine

In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.
– Thomas Jefferson

Every so often, some ignoramus will get on the television and spout some jibberish to the effect that the United States was founded by Christians, and therefore we should have prayer in school, teach creationism, or indoctrinate our children in some form or another of superstitious foolishness.

If you still think that the founding fathers were all Jesus freaks, you might want to check out Freethinkers.

It’s a complete history of all the good things atheists, agnostics, heretics, and heathens have accomplished in the history of the country. Starting from colonial times, right up to today.

It’s a history book, so it drags a bit in some parts, but overall, it kicks ass.

I considered giving it 4.5 jihadis. I’m not sure I want to get involved with non-integer numbers of jihadis, so it gets 4.

In related news, the people who run Colonial Williamsburg are doing some cool podcasts. This week’s is a reading of the Declaration of Independance by a Thomas Jefferson reenactor.

Next week, there will be a debate between Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry on the separation of church and State.