Did the founding fathers intend this country to be a "Christian nation under God"?

Question

Based on the results of this question:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Asaa7mvBnD_cAVrnZPdFhbfsy6IX?qid=20060822114927AAoMEwz

Many of you said that yes, there is a seperation of church and state. Do you feel that this was the intention of those who drafted and ratified the Amendment 1 to the US Constitution.

Why do you think such a law was passed? Is this a great law?

Answer 1

I had to go back and answer your first question, before I could understand this question.

I think the idea was to protect people from one group of religionists whose agenda would include enforcing their particular beliefs on the rest. I don't for one minute believe that the intention was to do away with religion altogether, particularly Christianity. This country owes too much to Christianity...yes, when twisted and misused, it (Christianity) produces some truly evil results...but, I'm very much afraid that the same will be even more true of this amendment!! Is being "godless" truly a great cause to fight for?????

Answer 2

some did ...some clearly did NOT ... Christianity, back then, was very different than the current American evangelical brand of Christianity. if you look at adherants.com, they list all the churches the various congressmen were members of, leading people to believe they were all churchgoers ... but read some letters, books, speeches, etc written by people like Adams, Madison, Jefferson, others ... CLEARLY some of them out and out despised Christianity and especially the bible, although, they believed in a "higher power"

The founders didn't leave the tyrannical church of England so they could come here to start their own tyrannical church. People like Ben Franklin were into science ... they were enjoying the "enlightenment" Building a theocracy like the evangelicals try to force on us, was NOT their goal

and by the way ... bigoted hateful responses like suggir_bear's (above) shows what kind of country we'd have if evangelicals had their way. .. might as well invite the Taliban to come and take charge

to PhiSigCloud: "in god we trust" and "under god" in the pledge of allegience, were added in the 1950s ... until then "e plurius unum" was on the coins, and there was no "under god" in the pledge

Answer 3

I think such a law was intended and it passed because they could see the inequality a system of religious government maintained. One only has to look at most of early New England history as a good example of that - especially Salem, MA in 1692.

Answer 4

Their intent was seperation of state and church.

I don't understand why so many want to earse that. It seems it would benefit the church more than these people understand. Do they know once they loose that seperation the government can come in and take over their chruch? Force gay marriages? Force gays and women to be pastors? Force the shut down of the church and literally run it?

Morons. They don't care to read and educate themselves. Just what sounds good at the moment.

Answer 5

the states were not founded to be a theocracy so the government and church should be separate entities. I think both should stay out of each others way. that's what i find dunny is that people are so upset when the government doesn't do what the church wants them to do but if the government stepped in and say required tax from churches there would be a revolt.

Answer 6

the place did you get the thought the founding fathers expected everyone to be any particular faith. the full reason of separation of church and state is so the government can't dictate what faith everyone needs to stick to. So all people is loose to coach despite faith they like to, or none. it can be a greater advantageous international if all people concept somebody grow to be looking over their shoulder at each little thing they have been doing. yet that's no longer the interest of any government via fact does no longer be freedom.

Answer 7

Which is it going to be using the founders intent or modern court rulings? Can't have it both ways.

The founders would probably have been less sectarian and not called us a Christian Nation. They would have had a general acknowledgment of God. They would not have thought that phrases invoking God's blessings were establishing religion.

Answer 8

No. Actually, very few "founding fathers" were christians and they certainly didn't found America on "Christian Priciples"!

Here's my favorite:

George Washington (1732-1799)
1st Elected President of the United States
"The United States is in no manner founded on Christian principle."
-Treaty of Tripoli

There's more at the link below.

Answer 9

The founding fathers said this would be a secular country but they still embeded many of their christian beliefs. "under god..."
"One god we trust" Etc.

I don't think there will ever be a 100% seperation of church and state.

Ex. Bill Clinton, he was going to be impeached because he cheated on his wife and lied...WHO CARES....I think this was a very christian thought and did not belong in politics.

Answer 10

No. In some of Thomas Jefferson's letters he stated there should be a separation. He also endorsed a revolution every 20 years, but that is a different category.