What has changed in the USA that non-Christians are no longer elected to the position of President?

Question

The last sixteen American presidents, starting with Woodrow Wilson (elected 1913) have all been Trinitarian Christians (Eisenhower was raised Jehovah's Witness but became Trinitarian during his presidency).

Yet among the first sixteen American presidents, I can find no more than six who could clearly be classified as Trinitarian Christians. The majority of the early presidents were Deists or Unitarians.

My question is this: what happened? How did the upper levels of government in the USA become exclusively Christian - and almost exclusively Protestant?

The wiki link included in one answer _is_ in fact where my sources come from.

Why call Deists and Unitarians Protestant? Luther and Calvin were both very explicit in their belief in both miracles and Jesus's divinity - they are cornerstones of Protestant belief.

These men would not have called themselves Christian. We do them a disrespect when we do.

Answer 1

It occurred at the election of Andrew Jackson. Prior to this time, our country was lucky in having so many men of mental quality and education. And a news media, though not vast, at least fair. Most people could read in this country in the 1700 and 1800 -- perhaps not well, but they could read. Secondly, Government was regarded as a public service, and payments for services were very little. Further, these men were above bribes, kickbacks and personal gain. If you know this much about history, then you know that George was offered the title of King. This does not mean that there were not conflicts and differences of opinions in our early government -- Hamilton was in favor of a royal lineage -- but with George, he wasn't going to get it.... George was sterile and produced no children. (As a matter of fact, the line of Washington died with him, and the only people now with a last name of Washington are black who when freed, took his name. There are not white people with the name of Washinton by inheritance.)

With Andrew Jackson, the "popular" people came into government -- at his innaugral people were jumping on the dining room tables in the White House (1830). And with the popular people came some wealthy ones who were searching to get only wealthier. They bought up the news medias---- government slipped from the hands of those who really cared how this new republic was going to survive. Times changed further ---- people saw opportunities in politics to line their pockets, and public service became a prize to use for self enrichment -- not so much for the salary, but for the financial influence. Christians, being a two-faced bunch -- love thy fellow man, but screw him out of his money first -- found going into politics could be incredibly financially rewarding and the survival of this republic became secondary to becoming wealthy at any cost to the people. There have been men and women who have been elected because they were able to convince their electorate that they had a program to better our government and our situation, but now with a hound dog news media, the slightest mar in the persons history or personality has doomed that person to the carpet, so anyone who hopes to get into government to effect positive changes has to walk a thin line Thus we arrive at the Bush administration, corrupt as any. And Bush is our most inept financial leader in modern history -- prior to his presidency, every financial venture he became involved in, his dad and his dad's cronies bailed him out--- of course they would be highly rewarded later, and were, and still are. Bush is not bright, either (how can one be and believe in the literal translation, think god is talking to you etc......) He got us into this war against the advise of every advisor he had -- even his dad told him to back off, aaahhh but no. He nor did anyone have any idea of what to do once Saddam was gone -- and now Iraq is in civil war. Add this to the fact that the news media are now all owned by conservative Trinitarians, and the people now have little ways of finding out the truth (NPR is still reliable).

So, in summary, between fundamental christians owning the news media, lining thier pockets with ill gotten $$$, a lack of political smarts, you have in power a group of nazis. But the American people are beginning to see thru some of this stuff, and with a rating of only 37% -- the worst in recent history, the lies, the invasion of privacy with the Patriot act, perhaps some of the voters will at last stand up on their hind legs and get these people out of government.. (Then again, perhaps not...)

Does this answer your question?

Answer 2

Well what was going on socially when Woodrow Wilson became President.. World War I. Up until that point in history that was the most modern warfare seen. When there is massive social upheaval for some reason society goes into religion rather than logic.

A number of events also reinforced this... You had the massive droughts of the Prairie belt between 1917-1920, then a few years of respite before the stock market crash of 1929 and years of the Depression, then World War II came.. then McCarthyism and the red scare, Korea, The Cold War, Vietnam.... In a hundred year span that is a lot of social unrest as opposed to what happened between 1620 and 1917.

If the majority of the people find comfort in the 'ideals' of their leaders they will see no reason to change.

Answer 3

I hate to tell you but unitarians and most other diest are "protestants" and only one president in American History - John F. Kenndy - wasn't a protestant. All American Presidents have been Christians. The reality is there aren't any non-Christian that haven't been Christian (although it is argued that Thomas Jefferson might have secretly been an atheist - he knew he couldn't be elected if he was officially known as one).

When an acknowledged Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddaist, atheist, etc... is elected President them that would be a major change in the election of Presidents based on faith. Being an Unitarian does not mean you aren't a Christian - in means you does accept the trinity but you are still a Protestant and you are still a Christian.

Answer 4

i don't have any proof but my thought is that so many are raised to believe that all people should be of 1 religion that when it comes time to elect a president, the majority of people find it offensive to consider a president who isn't that 1 religion.

another thing it could be is that some big shot somewhere only allows presidential candidates to be that 1 religion. i personally think that a person of any religion should be president.

one other possibility. it could be that Christians are the only ones who want to rule the country . all the others just wanna live life in peace. but for a religion who preaches that we shouldn't fight they seem to enjoy either staring a war or joining one(even if that war wouldn't effect us too much if we stayed out of it)

Answer 5

Through clarification and strengthening of values is first..

Second, you only can look at writings from days gone by to determine what other presidents and leaders thought, especially 200 + years ago.

I'm real curious about your resarch, though... I wish you had posted some links because I'm more interested in more research than actually trying to argue anything just yet!

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim Eisenhower as an adherent, but other scholars do. They note that Eisenhower refused to name his religion until he began to campaign for President, whereupon he named a church he had joined only weeks earlier. Eisenhower used a Jehovah's Witness bible for his inaugeration (though it was not a New World Translation, which was not completed until 1960).

http://adherents.com/people/pe/Dwight_Eisenhower.html

Answer 7

America is withdrawing away from christianity. The christianity that made them very sucessful in the 1930s/40s

Answer 8

For some reason, people got it into their heads that a man's religion will be some indication of the sort of president he will make.

Answer 9

A reflection of the overall population's beliefs.

Answer 10

Religion matters in the US god knows why? Its the man whats important!