Founded as in the settlers of the 16-1700's not the natives.
2006-09-08 08:54:42 · 9 answers · asked by Corey 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In a sermon of October 1831, Episcopalian minister Bird Wilson said, "Among all of our Presidents, from Washington downward, not one was a professor of religion, at least not of more than Unitarianism." The Bible? Here is what our Founding Fathers wrote about Bible-based Christianity: Thomas Jefferson: 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. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth. Jefferson again: Christianity...(has become) the most perverted system that ever shone on man. ...Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus. More Jefferson: The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves...these clergy, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ. Jefferson's word for the Bible? Dunghill. John Adams: Where do we find a precept in the Bible for Creeds, Confessions, Doctrines and Oaths, and whole carloads of other trumpery that we find religion encumbered with in these days? Also Adams: The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli. Article 11 states: The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion. Here's Thomas Paine: I would not dare to so dishonor my Creator God by attaching His name to that book (the Bible). Among the most detestable villains in history, you could not find one worse than Moses. Here is an order, attributed to 'God' to butcher the boys, to massacre the mothers and to debauch and rape the daughters. I would not dare so dishonor my Creator's name by (attaching) it to this filthy book (the Bible). It is the duty of every true Deist to vindicate the moral justice of God against the evils of the Bible. Accustom a people to believe that priests and clergy can forgive sins...and you will have sins in abundance. 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. Finally let's hear from James Madison: What influence in fact have Christian ecclesiastical establishments had on civil society? In many instances they have been upholding the thrones of political tyranny. In no instance have they been seen as the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty have found in the clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate liberty, does not need the clergy.
oh yeah and Abraham Lincoln: "The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."
2006-09-08 09:06:35 · answer #1 · answered by Voodoo Doll 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. See the Treaty of Tripoli (1796) which begins "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..."
Read it and weep fundies!
2006-09-08 16:08:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
in the time of 1600-1700, america was most certainly not free to all religions. The sttelers were Puritans, a branch that split off from the English church that turned protestant. They were indeed christians, that were incredibly devoted to their faith. anybody who was not this religion was commonly called a witch and hung...
2006-09-08 16:02:00 · answer #3 · answered by UnholySoldier 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christian as far back as 1650
2006-09-08 22:16:58 · answer #4 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from what i know, the settlers enslaved and converted most of the natives, so, yeah
2006-09-08 16:15:30 · answer #5 · answered by tomcat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
America was founded on religious freedom.
2006-09-08 15:58:07 · answer #6 · answered by Caleb's Mom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The majority of the founding fathers were deists.
2006-09-08 15:57:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
mainly christian/protestant belifefs with IDEAS taken from indians
2006-09-08 16:00:28 · answer #8 · answered by Cool it 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
loved that film the never ending story and the dragon was just too cute.....
2006-09-08 15:58:46 · answer #9 · answered by A_Geologist 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋