Reading some of the public anti-religious rhetoric that has surfaced in the wake of the debates over the proposed ordinance, AO 64, it occurred to me to try to discern what if anything the Founders might have thought of such discourse. The specific answer to the question varies to some degree from Founder to Founder, based upon their personal views of religion. But, it nonetheless appears to be nearly universally held among the Founders that although private rejection of religion and of faith was considered sacrosanct (a God given right, if you will), public ridicule and rejection of religion was viewed as intemperate if not unwise. Consider the words of Benjamin Franklin in his famous letter to his good friend Thomas Paine.

Paine is himself a Founder. In fact, he has a claim to the title, "The Father of the American Revolution", because of his pro-independence pamphlet, Common Sense, which he published in January, 1776. Paine was a signer of the Declaration, and his words were quoted by President Barack Obama in his inaugural address: "Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."

Franklin is one of the best known and most well regarded Founders. He is also one of the most professionally diverse of the Founders. Throughout out his life, at various times he was a printer, author, inventor, scientist, philanthropist, statesman, diplomat, and public official. His resume of service to our Nation is impressive, and makes his words worthy of respectful consideration. In 1774 Franklin was the first President to the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1776. He was a negotiator and signer of the final Treaty of Peace with Great Britain in 1783. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. And, he is one of only six men to have signed both the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution (1787).

Franklin (along with Thomas Jefferson) is regarded as one of the least religious of the Founders. Yet, he nonetheless respected the role of religion and prayer in our society, nation and government. One demonstration of this is Franklin’s letter to his friend Thomas Paine, written after Paine forwarded Franklin a copy of Paine’s manuscript of “The Age of Reason”, a book that advocated against the concept of a providential God. Here is Franklin’s letter to Paine:

“TO THOMAS PAINE.

DEAR SIR,

I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument it contains against a particular Providence, though you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion. For without the belief of a Providence, that takes cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favor particular persons, there is no motive to worship a Deity, to fear his displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion, that, though your reasonings are subtile and may prevail with some readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general sentiments of mankind on that subject, and the consequence of printing this piece will be, a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits against the wind, spits in his own face.

But, were you to succeed, do you imagine any good would be done by it? You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous life, without the assistance afforded by religion; you having a clear perception of the advantages of virtue, and the disadvantages of vice, and possessing a strength of resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common temptations. But think how great a portion of mankind consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced, inconsiderate youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great point for its security. And perhaps you are indebted to her originally, that is, to your religious education, for the habits of virtue upon which you now justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent talents of reasoning upon a less hazardous subject, and thereby obtain a rank with our most distinguished authors. For among us it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots, that a youth, to be raised into the company of men, should prove his manhood by beating his mother.

I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt unchaining the tiger, but to burn this piece before it is seen by any other person; whereby you will save yourself a great deal of mortification by the enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of regret and repentance. If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it. I intend this letter itself as a proof of my friendship, and therefore add no professions to it;

but subscribe simply yours,

B. Franklin”

Jared Sparks, The Works of Benjamin Franklin, (Boston: Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason, 1840), Vol. X, pp. 281-282.

Paine became notorious because of "The Age of Reason", which he eventually published against Franklin’s advice. Paine’s book infuriated many of the Founding Fathers. He was both publicly and privately scorned and rebuked by signers of both the Declaration and the Constitution, such as John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Rush, John Dickinson, Charles Carroll, John Witherspoon, Elias Boudinot, Patrick Henry, and also by William Paterson and John Jay, signers of the Constitution and Justices on the U. S. Supreme Court.

Paine's views caused such vehement public opposition that he spent his last years in New York as “an outcast” in “social ostracism” and was buried in a farm field, because no American cemetery would accept his remains.

Today we certainly, and thankfully, have more tolerance for the expression of varied opinions in public, even on the subject of religion. But, perhaps even today Franklin’s caution for temperance is still well worth considering and heeding. Disagreement is, after all, one thing, while insult is something altogether different.