At ReligionDispatches, Sarah Posner has some more data on Rand Paul’s crackpot brand of libertarianism, which is inexplicably mixed with fundamentalist Christianity: Rand Paul: We Wouldn’t Need Laws If Everyone Were Christian.

As found here. Though in truth, I can't actually find Paul saying this - what he actually is quoted as saying is

it helps to have a people who believe in law and order and who have a moral compass or a moral basis for their day to day life.

Now this reminded me of something I had read somewhere before. Where was that? Ah yes, here it is.

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. . . . .And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

Washington's farewell address, for those keeping score.

So George Washington is on the record saying pretty much the same thing that Paul is saying. Which makes him a fundamentalist reconstructionist! The truth is out!

Though I also seem to recall that LGF was objecting to the state of Texas making this assertion. Though of course, they mention Thomas Jefferson, not George Washington.

So I guess the US was founded as a theocracy, then under Jefferson it retroactively became not a theocracy, and now Paul wants to make it a theocracy again. Got it? Good. There will be a quiz.

Labels: politics, religion, trends