The American Fear of Enlightenment

We've enjoyed reading Fawn Brodie's old book on Thomas Jefferson, "An Intimate History" (published in 1974). We've especially enjoyed the discovery of certain parallels between Jefferson's presidential campaign in 1800 and our own sad times. Jefferson was well known as a critic of organized religion, particularly the stranglehold that the Anglican Church had on Virginia state politics. "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man," Jefferson wrote, confirming that indeed he was a critic of "the church" in America. Brodie writes that "Clergymen told their parishioners that a vote for Jefferson was a vote against Christianity, and warned that if he won they would have to hide their Bibles in their wells."

Remind anyone of the fear-mongering and bigotry practiced against John Kerry last year?