1738-1789
Leader of the Green Mountain Boys
Education: mostly self-educated, some informal, private instruction
Occupation: farmer, businessman
Political Affiliation: republican
Organizational Affiliation(s): Mason
Religious Affiliation: none
Summary of Religious Views:
Ethan Allen was a freethinker and critic of
Christianity. He wrote Reason, the Only Oracle of Man, in which he
espoused natural religion and denied the validity of traditional religions,
including Christianity. It is said that he stopped his wedding ceremony when
the phrase "agreeable to the laws of God" was uttered, in order to
clarify that the only god meant was the god of nature, and not the god of any
organized religion or any other god. Only after he was reassured on this point
would he allow the ceremony to proceed.
Quotations:
"In the circle of my acquaintance, (which
has not been small,) I have generally been denominated a Deist, the reality of
which I never disputed, being conscious I am no Christian, except mere infant
baptism make me one; and as to being a Deist, I know not, strictly speaking,
whether I am one or not, for I have never read their writings; mine will
therefore determine the matter ..." -- Reason, the Only Oracle of Man,
1784, Preface
"In those parts of the world where learning
and science have prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in those parts of it as
are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue." -- Reason,
the Only Oracle of Man, 1784
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