How Many Writings of European Atheists Were Read by Our Founding Fathers

In the couple of centuries before our Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787, there were a blizzard of articles published which lampooned Christianity. They covered exactly the same topics we discuss here these days. Atheist authors wrote about the ancients who never saw Jesus but quoted him. They wrote about the folly of calling unusual events miracles and of believing their exists a Holy Ghost and invisible God. One of the most biting and influential wrote under the pen name, Voltaire. Voltaire died just ten years before the Constitutional Convention. He was a contemporary of the men in Philadelphia.

Voltaire made a comfortable living writing sarcasm about Christianity and all other religions. Thomas Paine wrote about Voltaire, "His forte lay in exposing and ridiculing the superstitions united with statescraft that had interwoven with governments." What could be a better reflection of the separation of church and state. Those who claim yet today the founders meant for the U.S. to be a Christian nations seem unaware of Voltaire.

The English writer Carlyle wrote of Voltaire, "He gave a death stab to modern superstition.." American Robert Ingersoll, "Voltaire did more for human liberty than any other man who lived and died."

Of those at the Constitutional Convention was Benjamin Franklin who had lived in France for quite a while. Two who later became Presidents, Jefferson and Adams were themselves in Europe, were corresponding with participants and were aware of the problems of state religions.

Unfortunately, Voltaire, like some atheists today, paid a substantial price for expressing his views. He was jailed numerous times and forced into exile. Nevertheless, he contributed to the ongoing battle to keep religion out of government.