Quasimodo thread 2 Founders hostile to organized religion?

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_richardMdBorn
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Quasimodo thread 2 Founders hostile to organized religion?

Post by _richardMdBorn »

Quasimodo asserted
If you read Jefferson, it's obvious he was very much against organized religion (as were many other American revolutionaries).

I will define many as 25% but am open to other opinion about the percentage it should be. The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were:

Adams, John Massachusetts UN
Adams, Samuel Massachusetts CO
Bartlett, Josiah New Hampshire CO
Braxton, Carter Virginia EP
Carroll of Carrollton, Charles Maryland RC
Chase, Samuel Maryland EP
Clark, Abraham New Jersey PB
Clymer, George Pennsylvania QU/EP
Ellery, William Rhode Island CO
Floyd, William New York PB
Franklin, Benjamin Pennsylvania DE
Gerry, Elbridge Massachusetts EP
Gwinnett, Button Georgia EP
Hall, Lyman Georgia CO
Hancock, John Massachusetts CO
Harrison, Benjamin Virginia ?
Hart, John New Jersey PB
Hewes, Joseph North CarolinaEP
Heyward Jr., Thomas South Carolina ?
Hooper, William North Carolina EP
Hopkins, Stephen Rhode Island ?
Hopkinson, Francis New Jersey EP
Huntington, Samuel Connecticut CO
Jefferson, Thomas Virginia DE
Lee, Francis Lightfoot Virginia ?
Lee, Richard Henry Virginia ?
Lewis, Francis New York ?
Livingston, Philip PB
Lynch Jr., Thomas South Carolina ?
McKean, Thomas Delaware PB
Middleton, Arthur South Carolina ?
Morris, Lewis New York West?
Morris, Robert Pennsylvania EP
Morton, John Pennsylvania ?
Nelson Jr., Thomas Virginia ?
Paca, William Maryland EP
Paine, Robert Treat MassachusettsCO
Penn, John North Carolina ?
Read, George Delaware EP
Rodney, Caesar Delaware EP
Ross, George Pennsylvania ?
Rush, Benjamin Pennsylvania PB
Rutledge, Edward South Carolina AN
Sherman, Roger Connecticut CO
Smith, James Pennsylvania PB
Stockton, Richard New Jersey PB
Stone, Thomas Maryland EP
Taylor, George PennsylvaniaPB
Thornton, MatthewPB
Walton, George Georgia AN
Whipple, William New Hampshire CO
Williams, William Connecticut CO
Wilson, James Pennsylvania EP/DE
Witherspoon, John New Jersey PB
Wolcott, Oliver Connecticut CO
Wythe, George Virginia EP
Religion key: AN = Anglican
CO = Congregationalist
DE = Deist
EP = Episcopal
PB = Presbyterian
QU = Quaker
RC = Roman Catholic
UN = Unitarian

http://www.usconstitution.net/declarsigndata.html

I think this list is generally correct. I will add Tom Paine and George Washington to it since Paine was very important in 1775-7 and Washington commanded the Army. I will concede Paine and Jefferson. The list contains 58 names. 25% of 58 is 14 rounding down. You have two, can you give me another twelve who were very much against organized religion. I have Witherspoon, a minister, Washington, both Sam and John Adams, and Franklin.
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