Today we continue our series examining our Founding Fathers in their own words and considering their high esteem for religion, religious liberty, and virtue.
Below is an excerpt from Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Paine’s religious beliefs have been the subject of much debate, but his words below illustrate very directly his belief that the government should protect religious and conscientious convictions.
Published in the US before 1923 and public domain in the US
“As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of government to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith.”
