Is America a Christian nation?

Question

Today's Presidential veto of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is based on relious beliefs regarding the definition of 'life'

There are no laws that define life as beginning at conception - and the current legal status of abortion would seem to suggest that, legally, it does not. Should a President make decisions based on personal faith? does this affect his ability to represent the entire American public?

Here's some context:

http://www.newsbatch.com/stem-pubopin.html

Answer 1

The first amendment guarantees Americans the right to religious freedom under the law, so no, we are not a Christian nation. It would be unconstitutional for congress to pass a law that elevated one religion over another, or limited the practice of religion.

But it's important to distinguish between religion and morality. Bush vetoed the bill not because it was not Christian but because he believed it was not moral. The president does have the legal right to veto any bill that passes in Congress with less than a 2/3 majority, and he is expected to act in accordance with his understanding of morality.

The problem lies not in the fact that Bush vetoed a bill on moral grounds, but the fact that his moral objection to the bill had no basis in reality. The stem cell research that would have been funded had the bill passed deals only with DISCARDED embryos from fertility clinics and abortion clinics. No human embryos are created for the harvesting of stem cells or any other research purposes. These are not embryos that were ever going to have the chance to develop into a child anyway. These are embryos that were going to be destroyed, and all that researchers were asking was to be allowed to use the cells from these embryos to potentially save countless lives and restore quality of life to countless more. To say that the stem cell research effected by the bill would result in the deaths of otherwise viable embryos is simply a misstatement of fact, and to veto it on that grounds is, quite frankly, idiotic.


Edit: I want to point out a couple of things. Several answerers have claimed that America is or was a Christian nation because our Founding Fathers were predominalty Christian. This is simply not true. Our Founding Fathers made VERY clear that they wanted a SECULAR government, as evidenced by the First Amendment to the Constitution, and various other documents. Although they may have been born to Christian families, the most influential of our Founding Fathers were not Christian.

George Washington never publically stated his religion, but upon his death, his friends described him as a Deist. Thomas Jefferson also never identified as belong to any relgion, but rather stated, " I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know." Benjamin Franklin was a Deist.

Here's what some of our founding fathers had to say about Christianity:

"I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology." -Thomas Jefferson

"The Christian church has set up a religion of pomp and revenue in pretended imitation of a person (Jesus) who lived a life of poverty." -Thomas Paine

"The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." -The Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11, which was signed by John Adams, among others.

"The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity." -John Adams

"It is the duty of every true Deist to vindicate the moral justice of God against the evils of the Bible." -Thomas Paine

"A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate liberty, does not need the clergy." -James Madison

"Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together." -James Madison

Also, at the time of the signing of the Delcaration of Independence, only 7% of the population of the 13 colonies belonged to a church.

Finally, someone pointed to the "Under God" clause of the Pledge of Allegence, and I want to clarify that the phrase was added during the height of the Cold War to distinguish us from the "Godless Communists," and was no included in the Pledge before that point. Nor does any reference to God in any of the documents alluded to in any of the other answers to this question specify it is the Christian God they are refering to.

Answer 2

Polling indicates that the nation is about 85 percent Christian, according to Fox News.

A President makes decisions based on personal opinion, correct? How are his opinions sans faith any more 'offensive' than his opinions based on his faith?

I would say that since 85 percent of the nation raises their hand to being Christian, he is representing as best he can. In this field, at least. We won't get into this war on terror, as well as phone tapping.

Lets add in the fact that he is a conservative... is this veto surprising to anyone at all? It shouldn't be. We all knew before hand where Bush stood on the Christianity-o-meter, his fundamentalist action should not be startling.

As it goes for what was mentioned above- I must say that I disagree that those of other faiths are really alienated. If an atheist can raise a stink about where the ten commandments are, about the word 'God' being uttered in our Plegde of Allegiance, and about a Christian child's right to pray inside a school... I don't know how we could use the word 'alienation' toward non-Christians.

Answer 3

Only in the sense that most Americans are Christian (we're a "Christian majority nation"). Of COURSE the founding fathers didn't design America to be a religious nation. They expressly prohibt the government from forcing ANY religion down the throats of the citizenry. Go read a copy of the Constitution. (I guess what I've been hearing is true; schools no longer teach Social Studies classes. Tragic!)

Answer 4

America is a Christian nation. It has a certain culture that incubates a Christian way of life; many Americanized people are assimilated into such a culture. Sure, there are people of other religions living in the country, but ultimately, they are alienated as not belonging to the nation per se. Of course, by definition, a nation is a group of people bound by a common culture. So, there is a difference between living in America and actually being an "American" or belonging to the "American nation." This also explains the American enmity towards Islamic nations and American alliances with similar European Christian nations and the Jewish nation Israel. There is always a certain cultural bias that determines war and peace, even in a country that claims equality and religious freedom that is never actualized.
Note: to explain the tendency towards secularism, we must see the hypocritical deviance that exists within the American culture.

Answer 5

Well, the President just vetoed legislation that 70% of the population wanted because of fundamentalist beliefs. To a certain extent, our government is controlled by a minority religious group - christian fundamentalists -not to be confused with regular Christians - most of whom are intelligent enough to know the difference between an embryo and a human.

Answer 6

The United States WAS ONCE A CHRISTIAN NATION the declaration of independance and other historical documents were based on christianity. That is most likely why he made the decision he did.

Answer 7

We are a country that was founded by christian people and principles. That said, we are heavily dominated by christian "things". Just look at the many influences-- oaths are taken on a bible, In God we trust is on the money, Pledge of alligence "under God", Daily prayer in congress (christian prayer).

So for many intents and purposes, yes. However, there is room for non-christians and non-belivers. That is the whole concept of freedom of religion.

Consider this though-- there are many countries (e.g. in Europe) which have even more christian influences. In fact, many state schools (e.g. in Germany) have religious education (christian). There are also many christian state holidays in those countries. What's ironic though is that for all the bitching about liberals being Godless, those left-leaning countries have alot of God in their worlds.

Answer 8

There are several questions in your one question. First - "There are no laws that define life as beginning at conception - and the current legal status of abortion would seem to suggest that, legally, it does not." The societal law does not create natural law; it is designed to reflect it and protect it in society. At present, there is a law assessing a fine of $50,000 and a possible prison sentence for killing an unborn baby eagle in the egg; that is societal law protecting life at conception. The only reason they allow unborn humans to be killed is for convenience, financial profit and avoidance of conscience. Hence, the laws of the land are being changed to reflect a changing morality, not necessarily a new scientific understanding of the Laws of Nature, which never change, regardless of who is in power.

Regarding the president's faith in office: when elected to power by the majority, he is called to govern the land according to all that he is -- his knowledge, ability, wisdom, experience and his faith. Those who voted form him expected him to govern by these virtues, for they reflect the virtues of his supporters. It is for this reason that the majority voted for him -- because they identified with his faith and other virtues and expected him to make decisions for them that represented their will (and faith) as well. A person's faith is part of what they are, not just what they believe.

Is America a Christian Nation? According to the founding Fathers, it was upon conception, but it has changed. 52 of the 55 founding fathers were clearly Christians. America was founded on Christian principles. Look at the content of Blackstone's book of law, which is the basis for America's legal system. It is filled with biblical references as reasons for it's laws. Our very design of government, The Judicial branch (judges), Legislative branch (prophets, or law-givers) and Executive branch (the king) was taken directly from the Old Testament system of government. Patrick Henry stated very clearly, "It cannot be stated too loudly or too strongly that America was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not upon religion, but upon the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Of course, it has now become a humanist country by majority, according to its current laws, and as a result we now have the chaos and self destruction you presently see when we govern ourselves by human feelings and desires set at liberty without conscience or consequence, accountable to no one.

Answer 9

the president is entitled to his beliefs. however, i'm entitled to mine as well.

when he governs, he should be able to give reasons for his decisions. "because of my faith" is never sufficient if his decision has forced me to do something counter to mine. for example, if he believes there are souls that appear at conception that need to be protected... he should have to prove it.

that is my concern; i am nervous about laws that have no obvious reasoning behind them. i'm an agnostic, and i do not see the same things he does. does that mean i'm blind or that he's making it up? that should not be an option... i should have every right to demand some logic for our laws that does not require me to see spooks.

Answer 10

America is not a Christian nation.
However, Bush is Christian.
He should not be making decisions based on his personal faith, but can you truly say that you expected better of him?