They were Christians yes, well maybe, but didn't the US forefathers agree on a separation of church and state?

Question

I'm not bashing religion here, just posing a question.

If you're reading this in the U.K. im sure you have similar problems. maybe not as prevolent but I recently read that religion has been creeping into western politics everywhere. give me your thoughts about YOUR COUNTRY as well.

Our government was based the western european enlightenment, not the bible. There are references to god but only because many of the writers of our original documents were christian. They did not think we should create laws based on the bible. oh quite the contrary. separation of church and state, remember that from history class? so why are christian groups and politicians trying to push their ideals on the public? land of the free right? maybe land of the free for christian conservatives. again, no offense

i guess i didnt make this clear. sorry. the reason i bring the forefathers into the question is because many of the christian groups claim that our government was founded by christians based on christian values.

I believe I said christian groups and politicians. NOT ALL CHRISTIANS. please dont use this for an elitist rampage, I coiuld be christian for all you know.

Answer 1

The Treaty of Tripoli was signed in Tripoli on November 4th, 1796. ... the US Senate on June 7, 1797 and ratified by President John Adams on June 10, 1797. ...

"As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;"

Answer 2

The idea of a separation of church and state was an idea the Founders included because they saw how the assumption of state power corrupted the church in Europe, and how it led to countless wars and conflicts and political repression. They did not want a church to be established as the national church of the United States.

The current debate however is not one contemplated by the Founders. The church, since the founding, has always played an important role in civil society, such as by providing aid to the poor, providing education for little or no cost, etc. The conflict came into play only because the state expanded its role in civil society. None of the founders ever envisioned the federal government getting into the charity business, or the pension business, or education, and they would have been utterly appalled if anyone had ever proposed such a venture.

So we got along quite peacefully without any church/state issues for a long time, until the government began stepping on church property and claiming that it was the church that was trespassing.

So what we have no is a situation where everything once considered private is now public. If you own a bar in New York City or Austin, TX you know this well. Your private bar or club is now "public property" subject to all sorts of rules and regulations. So it is the state creating the church/state separation issue as it encroaches further and further into civil society, regulating it, controlling it, and eventually destroying it.

Another commenter above made a good point about marriage. Marriage was once the private domain of the church, but now you need to get permission from the government: pay them to get a license to get married! The state has exercised the power of eminent domain over it without just compensation. It has turned the idea of marriage into a secular concept, granted special favors and benefits to those who get married at the exclusion of others who don't fit the definition, and you wonder why we have conflict. Anytime something is taken from the private space of civil society - society acting privately and voluntarily - and put into the political realm, you have competing interests jockeying for power, and someone will always lose.

It just seems to me that government is not content these days just to bar the establishment of a state church with all the attendant powers of a state entity. It now wants to banish every vestige of religious (especially Christian) exression from civil society altogether by expanding into everything that was once in the private domain.

Answer 3

It means the church should have no influence on government policy. Unless you want to live in Iran, you should consider it a good thing. Also the first amendment clearly states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.". It may not be mentioned as an exact phrase, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.

Answer 4

Why do people keep distorting the separation of Church and State issue? the founding fathers of AMerica were all to familiar with the problem of the state and the church being one and the same. The church of England was the problem. The right of freedom of religion was response to the king of England. The real issue is to keep the government from taxing a particular religion out of excistance. THe English government at the time could impose taxes that could destro any other religion than the Angilcan church. church.

Answer 5

Well maybe? they were Christians. ok so maybe there are some points where christian leaders lean too heavily on thier religion for backup, but since when are the principles of christianity "creeping" into politics such a problem? some people take the bible too literally which I don't agree with and sometimes leads to funny logic in my opinion but generally i think most religions including christianity support love peace justice etc. etc. of course when people start trying to support stuff like gay marriage banning with religion i think that's too far becuase it does not express the love that is the main principle of the religion in the first place. the forefathers created America under the guidance of christian principles becuase they work. they have so far anyway.

Answer 6

Sometimes, letting go seems like the easiest thing to do. But think about this: you've invested so much of your time and energy into another person; you've made a solemn promise; and you still know there's love, even if it's hiding underneath the surface. This website will show you how to save a marriage and avoid divorce, even if you're the only one trying https://tr.im/CjR6l

Answer 7

First off I want to say good question. In my opinion I think that people are trying to take away christian rights. They want to take Christmas out of Christmas tree, which makes no sense to me, it's a Christmas tree not a Hanuka tree or Kwanzaa tree or any other holiday. It was created to be a Christmas tree. They try to take God out of the Pledge of allegiance when it has been there all along. They don't want kids praying in school. If it's freedom of religion that we are suppose to have then let people celebrate or not celebrate when ever and how ever they want to, as long as it doesn't cause harm to anyone else, i.e. killing people because they are infidels. I believe people should have the right to choose their religion, or non religion and should not be discriminated against for it.

Answer 8

I think the extremist religous groups would love to tell you how to live and what to do!

Those are usually the ones that don't live a very Christian life, right George???

I believe many people left Great Britian because the were being persecuted by the religious in England!

Answer 9

this is pretty much a daed subject. Christians have in fact been discriminated against if they hadn't been they would not be out their voting, now they are just doing what any group like pro-choice have been doing for years. Christians themselves are not your enemy it is their leadership who is misleading them just like the people who mislead you if you do not pay close attention. This has been a misguided Chistian back lash. Many Christians are good people the fact that so many percieve us as the bad guys is the fault of a leadership who have taught their followers they are not accountable. The Bible says they are and sets guidlines for who gets to be leaders and how to hold them accountable but like kids who do not do their homework they are to lazy to read their own Holy book. Sad very Sad. I apologize for not being more effective.

Answer 10

the u.k. has no articulated right to free speech or freedom of religion like we do, so i don't know if they would be concerned.

it has ALWAYS been an issue. we need to decide if we believe in some of these ideals or if we simply champion them because we inherited them. the founding fathers were a group of people with sometimes divergent ideas. i value the separation of church and state as many of them did, but i do not value it simply because they founded the country: i value it because our nation would not exist without it.