Do you think that America was founded upon christianity...or something else?

Question

Please back up your answer with proof or a source of information. Thanx.

Answer 1

I think it was founded by strong intellectuals who were influenced by a well-researched and considered perspective of Christianity (nothing like fundamentalism) as well as their reading of Enlightenment thinkers (spinoza, locke, etc.). Some quotes to affirm their support for evolved religion as a great influence:
• It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand." - John Adams
• "True religion affords to government its surest support." - Washington
• "The… law established by the Creator… extends over the whole globe" -- Rufus King
• “moral precepts of Jesus as more pure, correct, and sublime than those of ancient philosophers." - Jefferson
• Without this [religion] there can be no virtue, and without virtue … no liberty." – Rush

Here are some quotes that distance them from fundamentalism:
• "The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion…." Treaty of Tripoli, 1797, unanimous approval by Senate, administered by John Adams
• Erecting the "wall of separation between church and state," therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society. - Thomas Jefferson
• Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law. -- Thomas Jefferson
• The clergy … have been … against the civil and religious rights of man. - Jefferson
• “his [Jesus’] principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind - Jefferson
• Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must approve the homage of reason rather than of blind-folded fear. Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences.... If it ends in a belief that there is no god, you will find incitements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise and in the love of others it will procure for you. - Jefferson
• I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition [Christianity] one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded upon fables and mythologies. - Jefferson
• "I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of...Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all." - Thomas Paine
• "Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, "This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!"-Adams
• "As to Jesus of Nazareth ... some doubts as to his Divinity." - Benjamin Franklin

Answer 2

The original Americas all had various types of religion, usually in regard to the earth and ancestors. I am not too familiar with Native American religions, but they were vast and wide.

I took a course on Religion in American culture, and I learned about religion when Europeans came to America. Some of them were fleeing persecution because they were zealots and weren't happy that not everyone in their native county was the same religion as them. Others didn't care. Each state had different rules about religion. Some enforced Christianity, while others were secular. Many of the founding fathers of the USA were Deists, and Tom Jefferson even redacted his own Bible.

I found a short reaction to Washington's Farewell Address that I wrote when I took the class, so this may be helpful:

Looking back to Washington’s Farewell Address, one can appreciate Washington’s decision to not to run in another election. It was a logical decision to keep the presidents’ elected rule short in contrast to the lifetime reign of the monarchy, which the States just left. Washington pointed out that he put forth his best efforts into the new democracy, and he was aware that his judgment did have his flaws. However, he did point out that his passion and zeal for the nation has not lessened even though he is leaving. As pointed out prior in this discussion, Washington was very humble about all of this. He mentioned how grateful he was to serve the country and be a citizen with such honors, and that his fellow citizens’ support made his success possible.
One statement that I found particularly interesting was amidst themes of national pride; Washington stated, “With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles.” This could be interpreted as entirely exclusive or inclusive. For example, this statement could mean that he was only addressing Christians, and Christians were the only true Americans. Otherwise, Washington could have deduced that all religions, no matter how vast, worked towards the same goals and had common universal themes. I do not know how knowledgeable Washington was of non-Abrahamic faiths, but I believe he made that statement to include all Americans and help forge a national family. Washington warned against making the country’s citizens feel alien, which is a problem that still occurs today.
Further in the document, Washington warns that national morality cannot exist without religion. He declared, “Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” I would like to note that nowhere in the Farewell Address that the words “Christian,” “Jesus,” or even “God” are found! When Washington wrote about religion, but not limiting it to Christianity, he must have been very aware of the diverse nation in which he was living! Unfortunately, there was no account for Atheists, Agnostics, or people in-between religious paths. However, I am sure at the time those issues weren’t pressing if they were existent at all. Washington was very concerned about the unity and harmony of the nation, so his words were chosen carefully so as not to exclude any of the citizens.
A big problem that occurs though is who was considered a citizen at the time the Address was written. When reading this document, one must keep in mind who was allowed to vote, who could own land, who was considered property, and who was forced onto reservations and slaughtered.

Answer 3

Journey,
No. I think that this country was founded on some Christian principles. But not on Christianity. You see, the founding fathers decided that there would be Separation of Church and State. They had a butt full of the Iquisition and the Anglican Church to know that having the State recognize A church as official was a mistake. They had not too distant examples of that all over Europe. The result in those cases was state enforced dogma, and way too much bloodshed. So they stayed away from it.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"

Answer 4

The founding fathers were a group of faith and non faith.
America was founded so people could freely practice their religion. There's much more than this simplistic answer but know that America was founded to be an open society -- somewhat, not that open to Blacks and the Original People of the country.

Answer 5

America was founded with the basic judao-christian laws and tenets. Most of the early residents were Christian, and it follows a British standard of living. In fact the legal system is almost totally following the British Common Law system.

Answer 6

America was founded upon christianity.
The founding fathers worked very hard to overcome thair own religious conditioning to build a nation that was tolerant of any religion. However, the fact cannot be argued that the term "American values" is synonymous with "christian values". The society of America 230 years ago was 99.9% christian, and the early lawmakers built their system of laws to protect their way of life, against things that they saw as "bad" or "evil".
The evidence of this is on television every day. The fact that we are still debating the legality of gay marriage; the abortion issue; government censorship. These issues, and many more, rise out of the idea that the government has an obligation to uphold "decency". In other words, the laws of man should mirror the laws of God.
This is not what America is supposed to be about, in my opinion.

Answer 7

The USA (America is the continents, North and South) was founded on the separation of church and state, so that no one religion would be promoted over all others. Compare this to England, with the official state religion (Anglican) - this is what the founders wanted to avoid.

Many of the founders believed in deism, but that wasn't your question, was it? The US was founded on no particular religion nor group of religions.

Answer 8

Founded upon the prospect of religious freedom, and founded by deists.

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." - The Treaty of Tripoli.

Written under George Washington's administration, signed under John Adam's.

Answer 9

Note to the person that mentions the Under God in the pledge. It was not in the pledge untill the 1950's. I need to drag out my Thomas Jefferson edition of the bible and give you some rewritting quotes from one of the founding fathers. He was one of those free thinkers.

Answer 10

thecookiemonster_01 "Under god" was ADDED in the 50's, and not even for actual religious reasons, it was propaganda to combat communism. Either way, it can't have anything to do with the founding of the US, since there was no pledge of allegiance when the US was founded.