Who Said That?

"The atmosphere of our country is unquestionably charged with a threatening cloud of fanaticism, lighter in some parts, denser in others, but too heavy in all. I had no idea, however, that in Pennsylvania, the cradle of toleration and freedom of religion, it could have arisen to the height you describe. This must be owing to the growth of Presbyterianism. The blasphemy and absurdity of the five points of Calvin, and the impossibility of defending them, render their advocates impatient of reasoning, irritable, and prone to denunciation."

Have fun with this one!  Leave your guess in the comments section below.  Please, no google searches or cheating.  Answer to follow in one week.

Update on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 03:14PM by Kim Riddlebarger

This comes from a letter from Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, dated November 2nd, 1822.  I always love watching the "historians" on TBN and in the Christian media trying to prove that Jefferson was either a believer or some sort of nominal Christian.

Comments

[Mark]

Thomas Jefferson?

[Barks]

Benjamin Franklin

[Vaughan]

Heh... irritable Presbyterians.

["lee n. field"]

I would be guessing Jefferson or Franklin.

[Ken Rapoza]

Obviously whoever said this never listened to Kim Riddlebarger's explanation of the "five points" on Issues, Etc.! I must be getting into my "irritable Presbyterian" mode again...

[Aaron]

John Adams

[S. Rosenthal]

Rod Rosenbladt?

[Marv]

It is clearly an older manner of expression. I think not as old as Jefferson or Adams, as some have suggested. "Threatening cloud of fanaticism" makes me think more of mid-nineteenth century. Perhaps post second great awakening. Also perhaps the era prior to the Civil War. Also given that he is currently in the news I am going to suggest Abraham Lincoln.

[dsanger]

John Adams

[Tom]

Norman Giesler?

[Robert W.]

Wow! I can't believe I get to be the first person to guess ol' smiley face himself: Charles Finney.

[Coyle]

Hmm... It does have an "oldish" sound to it, but I'll still guess T.S. Eliot?

[KyleinWI]

Jefferson, he hate all "sects" accept for unitarians. He could tolerate them. It is amazing how much Jefferson and Adams sound like the new atheists.

[timinator]

Thomas Jefferson

[Mark Priestap]

@rosenthal LOLOL

John Adams?

[Jeff Rolfe]

I think our President said this during his "cling to their guns and religon" speech.

[Michael]

Thomas Jefferson

[Richard]

George Steinbrenner.

[John Y]

I have never seen Shane Rosenthal comment on the Riddleblog. Is that an inside joke or what? I kind of know Rod's thinking about Calvinists but did not know the extent of it. And who says Calvinists and Lutherans can't get along?

Another great quote this week. It shows the extent of how little we really get each other. The same kind of stuff is going on today from those who totally misrepresent each others positions.

I have no idea who it is yet, I think I will wait until I read a few more clues. My first thougt was Finney but he was an ordained Presbyterian himself. Talk about confused positions.

[Chris M.]

My first thought was also then-candidate Barak Obama making his derogatory religion & guns speech in California about us Pennsylvanians.