Why do many Christians believe their faith should dictate the lives of all Americans?

Question

I doubt any Christian would like to see their constitution, government, schools, laws, etc. overtaken by, say, Hindu beliefs. Why then is it okay to push for our country to be guided by any religious beliefs? Is it not ideal for us to practice our own faith, worship and beliefs in our own homes and churches?

Answer 1

I find it highly amusing the number of people who claim that the country was founded on Christian beliefs, without ever bothering to do any research on the subject.

Some useful facts that people can look up. The phrase "In God we Trust" was added to some money in the mid-1800s, and didn't become common on money until around 1900. Hardly original.

The phrase "under God" was added to the pledge in 1954. Hardly one of the founding concepts of the country.

Nowhere in the Constitution does it mention God. In fact the only two references to religion at all are in Article VI, prohibiting religious oaths or religious qualifications for office, and the 1st Amendment, mandating that the government "shall many no law respecting an establishment of religion".

The doctrine of separation of church and state has been recognized by the US Supreme Court for almost 130 years, and was considered by them to be the obvious meaning of the 1st Amendment back in 1878.

The fact that many people want to impose their religion on others is just another example of prejudice and selfishness on their part.

That's the short version. More below for those who are interested.

Answer 2

The answer is that they don't. While there may be a few exceptions, most Christians do not want to see Christianity become the established (official) religion in the United States. To Establish such a religion is sure to lead to compulsory membership in an official state church.

However we do object to fallacious assertions that the display of the ten commandments on public property, voluntary prayer in schools, the meeting of prayer groups in public offices, the presence of chaplains in the military and other non compelling circumstances such as invocations at graduation are establishments of religion.

Establishment must be official and usually involves some form of legal compulsion. The fact that such activities take place does not compel anyone to participate in or approve of those activities. The fact that someone may be offended is not equal to compulsion or establishment. To ban such activities simply because it offends others is however an infringement on the participants rights to free speech and/or free practice of religion.

The Supreme Court has for the most part protected free practice, however powerful organizations, the ACLU in particular, engage in bullying tactics to get school districts and state and local government agencies to comply with their demands. As a result, such cases rarely make it to the federal courts.



It should also be noted that while this country was not officially founded as a Christian nation, the Declaration of independence (in which lies the authority to form a new nation and laws) includes an assumption that our enalienable rights are endowed by our creator. Thus if there is no creator, than the validity of the U.S. right to independence no longer has any foundation.

The ideas behind the constitution were taken primarily from the bible and the ten commandments in particular. However, ideas were also taken from English common law and from classical sources. The framers of the constitution did not want any official national religion to be established, but they did not interfere with the ability of the states to establish official religions. Many of the framers writings and a few official statements by the first congress encouraged Americans to choose Christians as their leaders. While most of the founding fathers believed that the rights which authorized them to break off from the British were endowed by the Christian God, they did not believe that anyone should be compelled to worship that God.

Answer 3

I think that most Christians support the separation of church and state. I do. And I would need examples of Christians "push(ing) our country to be guided by any religious beliefs." I think that most people who are truly Christians want this country to be guided by God, and what God stands for, not specific religious beliefs. Just exactly which Christian influences do you think are in the government that you are opposed to? A president who claims to be a Christian and is not in his deeds? What Christian influences dictate your life, or the rest of America, specifically? Evil is still out there, so what are you worried about?

Answer 4

Its a case of the blind leading the blind. Oh yea, thats faith isnt it? Theses people are so brain washed that they cant even see that theyre being used as pons politially. I hope that "God" leads them to the truth, reality of life, and see the world around us. I agree that all religions deserve a right to exist but not any "one" make the rules for all. There is a reason for the seperation of church and state. Right now we are living the repercussions from blurring that line and pitting one part of society against the other. Dont you see people, thats what the polititions want while robbing you blind. They care no more about religous freedom than they do for the enviorment. I find myself offended with all this Christian Right crap being shoved down my throat. If anything, it is building animosity towards them and I know I'm not alone. Let me decide on my own if I need "saving". Besides, allot of them are hippocrits. Theyre the same ones that want the death penalty but dont beleive in abortion, the same ones that go to nudey bars or dirty book stores but condem gays, the ones that have no respect for anyone unless theyre "like minded". I call that descrimination. They can get federal funding now for churches but still dont have to pay taxes. Becoming a religous leader, mainly Christian, is becoming a booming busienss. Its not Church anymore, its a profitable business. All for the praise of God, not! No religion is perfect, they all follow different ideals but up til recently, Church and State have gotten along fine. I thank the fore fathers for having such forsight in seperating the two. There was a reason for this. If you look at history, you'll see that its been religion that has been the downfall of most great empires. This one is no different. You can already see the effects on society today. I hope that we can elect a govenment that returns this country to order and stop this religous invasion never mind the terrorists. Do you realize that the war we're fighting now is one of religion? Maybe not on our part but theirs. Religion is tearing this country apart right now. If we're not careful, we will find ourselves in a war over religion in our own backyard. That makes us no better than the Middle East. We can do better and have to in remaining Americans

Answer 5

If you have read the founding documents, such as the declaration of independance and the constitution, you will see that this country was founded by and for christians. However, it is also part of our belief system that tolerance needs to be shown to anyone, that they may be able to practice whatever faith they so choose. Christianity does NOT dictate the lives of all Americans, actually, precious little dictates anything to americans aside from money.

Answer 6

It's not a matter of Christians "pushing" their beliefs on the people of this country. It's more of remembering what beliefs this country was founded upon and how people are twisting that and contorting it to something hideous. While there are American rights for freedom or speech and freedom of religion, many people tend to forget that the reason "In God We Trust" is on our currency is because when this country was founded...that was the "slogan"

Answer 7

Where do you get your crazy notions. Christians do not believe this but okay let's play.

This country was founded on Judo-Christian beliefs, it was not founded by Gandhi - thank god. Had it been founded by any other religious beliefs I doubt you would be asking now. You can see how tolerant they are in Hindu countries and the worse are the Muslim countries. I know, I know, you want to know about the atheist countries such as China or North Korea. Do I need to spell it out for you.
Who do you think made the laws in this country such as Free Speech, it wasn't Gandhi.

Answer 8

Yes, thank you for reading the Constitution and understanding the politics that this country was founded upon.

Every religion wants to see its faith dictate the lives of everyone else. That's simply the way it works, but thankfully this is a secular nation and not a theocracy.

Answer 9

For the religos our country was not founded on christian beliefs it was guided by christian ideals such as fairness. these ideals are also held by most major religions and aethists alike. We seperate religious beliefs from government because they are not all alike and no one should be forced to worship or held back because of theirs.

Answer 10

When America was discovered, and began growing, it was so much easier for people to rely on Christianity to guide their lives rather than trying to live as England wanted us to; this is why God is mentioned so much in numerous original documents (even our money). Now that we have so many different religions - it's not right for Christians to dictate we live by their rules only. Every religion has their own rules so we're all living by different rules as long as the laws don't conflict with religious lives.