Madison Against Religious Assessments

Currently, I'm reading the writings of James Madison. Knowing little of him, I decided to go straight to his own writings instead of a finding a biography. If you know a good biography to recommend, please do.

So far, I've found his prose generally hard to follow. At the same time, I've found the calibre of his thought worth the effort.

Today, I came across his opposition to an attempt in Virgina in 1785 to pass a bill "establishing a provision for teachers of the Christian religion". He didn't just call it a "dangerous abuse of power"; he showed why he reached that conclusion.

His opposition was addressed to the general assembly of the commonwealth of Virgina. Among the 15 points he made, here are some highlights, the best of his prose I've enjoyed so far:

Whilst we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess and to observe the Religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to those minds who have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us.

Look at that. Look at its total respect for the individual mind to reach its own conclusions at its own pace free from force on principle. Beautiful.

During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.

What influence in fact have ecclesiastical establishments had on Civil Society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the Civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny: in no instance have they been seen the guardians of the liberties of the people.... A just government instituted to secure & perpetuate [liberty] needs them not.

[Emphasis added]

Instead of holding forth an Asylum to the persecuted [and oppressed of every Nation and Religion], it is itself a signal of persecution.... Distant as it may be in its present form from the Inquisition, it differs from it only in degree. The one is the first step, the other the last in the career of intolerance. The magnanimous sufferer under the cruel scourge in foreign Regions, must view the Bill as a Beacon on our Coast, warning him to seek some other haven, where liberty and philanthropy in their due extent, may offer a more certain repose from his Troubles.

I'm happy to say that I still have much more to read!