[Fast_Eddie]

I can tell you what I think, not that any of you asked. I am a Catholic and if pressed I would call myself a Christian, though I distain what that word has come to represent in our country. I think, like Franklin, the Bible is filled with unfathomable wisdom, though it is more often over looked in favor of quotes that can be used to stand in judgment of others.

I go to church every week. Okay, most weeks. I participate in communion and have received all appropriate sacraments. I also believe the Bible was written by men and the commonly held belief in the nature of "God" is absurd. For many years I considered leaving the church. Damn near became a Unitarian, like many of our Founding Fathers. Ultimately I found that many in the clergy believed things very much in line with what I believed. I figure if they can call themselves Catholic so can I.

Paine's writings helped me come to terms with my beliefs. I think where I am now is probably very close to where many of our Founding Fathers were. People want it to be black and white. They were Christian or they were not. I don't think it's that simple. But I do think it's quite clear that they went out of their way to avoid the implication that any religion should be included in political debate.

I also believe, as was the intent of this thread, that the people organizing the "Tea Parties" know they are misleading the citizens of this country. I find that very wrong.