[Liberty4eva]

Can you guess which American president I'm speaking of? Here are some of his quotes through the years which span over 40 years of his life:

Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.

But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.

I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshipped by many who think themselves Christians.

History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.

The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.

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.

My opinion is that there would never have been an infidel, if there had never been a priest. The artificial structures they have built on the purest of all moral systems, for the purpose of deriving from it pence and power, revolts those who think for themselves, and who read in that system only what is really there.

You say you are a Calvinist. I am not. I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know.

Priests...dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversions of the duperies on which they live.

Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him [Jesus] by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being.

To talk of immaterial existences is to talk of nothings. To say that the human soul, angels, god, are immaterial, is to say they are nothings, or that there is no god, no angels, no soul. I cannot reason otherwise: but I believe I am supported in my creed of materialism by Locke, Tracy, and Stewart.

It is between fifty and sixty years since I read it [the Apocalypse], and I then considered it merely the ravings of a maniac, no more worthy nor capable of explanation than the incoherences of our own nightly dreams.

Yes, America once elected this man president (twice). And let him write the Declaration of Indendence. And put him on the nickle and 2 dollar bill. And Mount Rushmore. And he's usually the most loved founding father.

If you don't know by now you really need to brush up on your history but it was

Spoiler:

Thomas Jefferson.

Has the UK ever elected anyone prime minister who made such statements as skeptical of religion as America once did?

[King Gizzard]

Does it really matter?

[Liberty4eva]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Does it really matter?

I just take issue with this perception that we're all religious crackpots.

[MTVN]

James Callaghan is the only self-confessed Atheist PM I think although I'm not sure, it's by no means proven that Jefferson was an atheist though, he seems to have just had quite complex religious beliefs and was against organized religion

[Roy Mars III]

Jefferson wasn't really an atheist, though he had problems with organized religion, he still believed in a god.

[Liberty4eva]

Originally Posted by MTVN

James Callaghan is the only self-confessed Atheist PM I think although I'm not sure, it's by no means proven that Jefferson was an atheist though, he seems to have just had quite complex religious beliefs and was against organized religion

You can never prove or disprove whether Jefferson was an atheist but even the biggest cynic would have to admit that Jefferson flirts with atheism quite a bit.

[Roy Mars III]

Originally Posted by Liberty4eva

You can never prove or disprove whether Jefferson was an atheist but even the biggest cynic would have to admit that Jefferson flirts with atheism quite a bit.

Jefferson was a deist, which means he believed in a god. Just not in the way most Americans did at the time

[Omah]

So they didn't then .....

[Roy Mars III]

Originally Posted by Omah

So they didn't then .....

Not as such, no

[Omah]

As well as James Callaghan KG, PC (1912–2005): British politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and the only person to have served in all four of the Great Offices of State (mentioned above), there was also Clement Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC (1883–1967): Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, under whose government the National Health Service and Welfare State were established.

Other prominent UK politicians who were/are atheists include :

Bessie Braddock JP (1899–1970): British Labour politician, vice-chairman of the party in 1968.

Charles Clarke (1950–): British Labour Party politician, a Member of Parliament since 1997 and former Home Secretary.

Michael Foot (1913–2010): British politician and writer, leader of the Labour Party 1980–1983.

Roy Hattersley PC (1932–): British Labour Party politician, author and journalist, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 1983–1992.

Neil Kinnock PC (1942–): British Labour politician, Leader of the Opposition and Labour Party leader 1983–1992.

Ken Livingstone (1945–): Mayor of London 2000-08.

David Miliband (1965–): British Labour politician, Foreign Secretary from 2007 to 2010.

Ed Miliband (1969–): British Labour politician, Leader of the Labour Party from 2010 to the present.

Mo Mowlam (1949–2005): Former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Michael Portillo former British Member of Parliament for the Conservative party, former Minister of Defence.

Clare Short (1946–): British politician, former Labour Secretary of State for International Development.

[Marsh.]

Someone has a major chip on their shoulder.

a) If British people have made these comments on America, it doesn't mean the entire country agrees.
b) This forum is hardly representative of the people that would have those views with it being a reality television forum with the average member being teen or 20 something.

Stop taking everything so personally and just accept opinions instead of making thread after thread of US vs UK.

[Glenn.]

What's with the sudden Bash the Brits threads?

Britain is great hence the name Great Britain.

[Scarlett.]

I've never heard of a modern UK PM using their faith to be elected, unlike in America where it is made out to be a big thing

[BBfanUSA]

One of my teachers pointed this out.

America is more religous because of the seperation of church and state.

Isn't the queen or the monarchy the head of the church of england?
That's something to think about.

He saw it in some book that was made in 1830 by some frenchman that toured the US.

If it wasn't for religion america wouldn't actually be as "powerful" than they are today.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by big brother usa fan

America is more religous because of the seperation of church and state.

If it wasn't for religion america wouldn't actually be as "powerful" than they are today.

I'm struggling to understand the apparent contradiction of those statements ......

[Crimson Dynamo]

My thread was about now. I very much doubt the folks who voted for jefferson had any idea at all what his true religious feelings were. Back then it was hard enough to find out about your neighbours.

America is severly hampered by the vile religious far right and jewish lobby.

[BBfanUSA]

Originally Posted by Omah

I'm struggling to understand the apparent contradiction of those statements ......

I realized i screwed up on something

I meant America is religious because of the seperation of church and state.

[Wildcat!]

Whats with all these threads lately about you are not atheist enough! Who the hell cares. You atheists posters actually make it sound like an organized religion ironically.

Yes, people in the US believe in god more than in the UK! So what? Did someone win a prize? Do you think they care about the percentage of atheists!

Some of you guys, are the worst kind of atheist I have ever seen with the sort of subjects you come up with. But obviously most atheists would not want to have anything to do with you.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by Wildcat!

Whats with all these threads lately about you are not atheist enough! Who the hell cares. You atheists posters actually make it sound like an organized religion ironically.

Yes, people in the US believe in god more than in the UK! So what? Did someone win a prize? Do you think they care about the percentage of atheists!

Some of you guys, are the worst kind of atheist I have ever seen with the sort of subjects you come up with. But obviously most atheists would not want to have anything to do with you.

Blame the yanks on here constantly wanting to get one up on the Brits. They keep starting these threads.

[Wildcat!]

Originally Posted by InOne

Blame the yanks on here constantly wanting to get one up on the Brits. They keep starting these threads.

Do you really believe that?> "the yanks' like you call them, have no idea what the hell is going on outside the US, in general. They couldnt care less whats going on here. The UK on the other hand is the complete opposite, just watch tv. Its quite evident who's trying to one up whom, and who really cares.

And even though they are as pointless as each other, this thread was in response to the one about americans, never electing an atheist.

Agin, why do you care?

[Wildcat!]

Originally Posted by InOne

Blame the yanks on here constantly wanting to get one up on the Brits. They keep starting these threads.

Do you really believe that?> "the yanks' like you call them, have no idea what the hell is going on outside the US, in general. They couldnt care less whats going on here. The UK on the other hand is the complete opposite, just watch your tv, or read the newspapers. Its quite evident who's trying to one up whom, and who really cares.

And even though they are as pointless as each other, this thread was in response to the one about americans, never electing an atheist.

AgAin, why do you care?

[Stu]

I don't think you have any idea what is going on four feet from your face. Joe is right. If you had been paying attention at all you would have noticed that this isin't really an 'atheist' thing. It's just another one of liberty4eva's apple pie threads about where he's from. Made in response to the one recent thread you are refering to with the atheist overtones. That one recent thread with it's handful of atheist viewpoints.

Run for cover! The atheist religion is taking over the forum with their pretentious ability to type coherently!

[InOne]

Originally Posted by Wildcat!

Do you really believe that?> "the yanks' like you call them, have no idea what the hell is going on outside the US, in general. They couldnt care less whats going on here. The UK on the other hand is the complete opposite, just watch your tv, or read the newspapers. Its quite evident who's trying to one up whom, and who really cares.

And even though they are as pointless as each other, this thread was in response to the one about americans, never electing an atheist.

AgAin, why do you care?

So are they basically trolling by making these threads? The OP especially. And I don't care, that wasn't what I was on about...

[Wildcat!]

Originally Posted by InOne

So are they basically trolling by making these threads? The OP especially. And I don't care, that wasn't what I was on about...

So youre talking about one poster! There are 2 ridiculous american posters I notice here, who I tend to ignore, this op, and another named lostalex or something, and I dont get why you'd lump them with the whole country, which like I said, couldnt care less.

As for the subject, its so hilarious, bragging about my country is more atheist than yours, or less religious. Like somehow, it makes them better or more intelligent.

[Roy Mars III]

To be honest, there are a few posters(2 mainly) on here who feel the need to attack anyone with any sort of criticism of the United States. There really is no need for some of the threads the past two days which are obviously just some sort of 'retaliation' for that atheist president thread.

And I don't think anyone has said one country is smarter than the other because it's more atheist.