Typical Ed Brayton

Blogger Ed Brayton throws in his two-cents, here, on Huffington Post. Here is a taste of what he says:

"And not once, according to the notes of those in attendance, was the Bible ever referenced at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia to justify a concept or provision," according to Brayton.

Brayton is about as hard-core about his beliefs as anyone. The only problem is, the majority of the time, he's wrong; including this one. There were several times the Continental Congress referenced the Bible to emphasize a concept.

Here is a reference, in the Convention, by a man who isn't even a Christian! Thus, Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention cites the Bible for office holder qualifications, using property, and promoting the rich:

"We should remember the character which the Scripture requires in Rulers, that they should be men hating covetousness- This Constitution will be much read and attended to in Europe, and if it should betray a great partiality to the rich- will not only hurt us in the esteem of the most liberal and enlightened men there, but discourage the common people from removing to this Country."

Franklin is referencing Exodus 18:21, the specific verse that quotes, as Thomas Paine wrote, a form of Republican Government:

Exodus 18:21 (King James Version)

"Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens"

As I found this reference, I realized the important connection Franklin has made. No doubt he studied this verse, as did the other framers, which is why Thomas Paine called Israel a type of Republic. The Nations that employed this type of Republicanism were: The Swiss, and Calvin's Geneva, The Dutch, and England. All three had Republics that varied in some way. To the Founding Fathers, the Scriptures, through the Protestant Reformation, birthed modern Republicanism.

Folks, think twice when Ed Brayton speaks about the Founding Fathers; his knowledge of the Founding is less than noteworthy. The Constitution signers were fairly silent about religion because they left religion to the states. However, the fact remains, our schools should teach our children where the principles of Republicanism originated; The Bible.