alt.education

Jd wrote:
>Bob LeChevalier wrote:
>>http://www.youbetiam.com/index_files/Page4829.htm
>>>>< working on Sunday. Early Virginia law reads that “[a]ll persons
>>< whatsoever upon the Sabaoth daye shall frequente divine service and
>>< sermons both forenoon and afternoon” (Laws and Documents). Failure
>>< to comply with this resulted in disenfranchisement or worse. For
>>< example, in Connecticut, a man was not allowed to vote unless “he is
>>< converted and a member of one of the churches allowed in the
>>< dominion” (Connecticut). The penalty for non-attendance could also
>>< be financial, as in Virginia, where non-church-goers were taxed a
>>< pound of tobacco for one offense and a punitive 50 pounds for a
>>< month’s truancy (Laws and Documents).
>>(and see the sources cited at the bottom).
>>
>>
>>http://www.nha.org/history/hn/HN-summer94-colonialchurch.htm
>>>>< were chosen to patrol the town and arrest persons engaged on the
>>< Lord's day in acts of recreation or pleasure. It was also their duty
>>< to keep people awake during the church service. These Sunday
>>< constables were called "tithing men".
>><
>>>>< terms; only church members could vote or hold office.
>
>What? Are you suggesting that early Americans read the bible

Some did, some didn't. Many couldn't read. Many learned to read from
Bibles that were massively distributed, not because of the religious
content, but because they were free.

>and believed in God?

Some did. Some didn't. Many of those who did, did not agree on the
nature and will of the God they believed in, so it cannot be honestly
said that they believed in the same God, just because they used the
same word to refer to him.

lojbab