Barry Goldwater (Quote)

August 21, 2012

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“There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me ... that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D. Just who do they think they are?”

— Senator Barry Goldwater, R-Arizona, Congressional Record, September 16, 1981. Born Jan. 1, 1909. D. 1998.

Compiled by Annie Laurie Gaylor (FFRF)