[net.religion.jewish] George Washington on Religion

martillo@mit-athena.ARPA (Joaquim Martillo) (10/05/84)

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to  political  prosperity,
religion  and  morality  are  indispensable  supports....And let us with
caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained  without
religion.   Whatever  may  be  conceded  to  the  influence  of  refined
education on minds of peculiar structure,  reason  and  experience  both
forbid  us  to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of
religious principle.

--- George Washington, Farewell Address

lkk@mit-eddie.UUCP (Larry Kolodney) (10/06/84)

From Martillo (is he really at MIT now!?!?):
>Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to  political  prosperity,
>religion  and  morality  are  indispensable  supports....And let us with
>caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained  without
>religion.   Whatever  may  be  conceded  to  the  influence  of  refined
>education on minds of peculiar structure,  reason  and  experience  both
>forbid  us  to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of
>religious principle.
>
>--- George Washington, Farewell Address


Is this supposed to be evidence in favor of the claim that morality requires 
religion?  My favorite quotation  (I made it up myself) is:

Quotations don't prove a damn thing.


George Washington was a slaveholder.  Looks like that wasn't the only
thing he was mistaken about.
-- 
larry kolodney (The Devil's Advocate)

UUCP: ...{ihnp4, decvax!genrad}!mit-eddie!lkk

ARPA: lkk@mit-mc