There’s no reading of American history that can lead one to confuse their rejection and fear of denominational conflict with acceptance of godlessness and immorality.
And yet we still see these kinds of wholly inaccurate statements.
Many of the Founding Fathers were extremely fearful of the fusing of government and religion like we are seeing in today's Republican Party. It is not what they wanted.
This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.
John Adams
Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.
Thomas Jefferson
The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.
James Madison
The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.
Thomas Jefferson
"The number, the industry, and the morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the state."
James Madison
As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion
John Adams
"An alliance or coalition between Government and religion cannot be too carefully guarded against......Every new and successful example therefore of a PERFECT SEPARATION between ecclesiastical and civil matters is of importance........religion and government will exist in greater purity, without (rather) than with the aid of government."
James Madison
"No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
James Madison
A zeal for different opinions concerning religion...[has] divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good.
James Madison
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.
Thomas Jefferson