I would like to post here, in length, the full extract of Mr. Madison's writings on the concept of religious manipulation of the body politic as taken from his
Detached Memoranda. I will offer no commentary of my own, except to say that I agree with it wholeheartedly, and that all political liberals - classical and otherwise - ought to read it thoroughly, as it's probably the best primary documentation of the Founder's thoughts on the subject.
This will probably require several posts to make, so I ask that you refrain from posting in it until it is finished. I will highlight in
bold the parts I find most pertinent to our present social situation, and I will
bold and italicize those historical examples found herein.
http://candst.tripod.com/detach.htm
