Any evidence to support that America is NOT a Christian nation?

Question

In light of all the evidence that exists to support that we are a Christian nation – meaning not that our nation infringes upon anyone’s right to free religious practice and expression, but that our government was meant to exclusively endorse the Christian faith – what evidence exists to support the other side of the argument? …I am especially looking for excerpts from founding documents, decisions of the Court, written opinions of those who served on the Court, etc….not so much speculation about the religiosity of our founders or even random quotes (although these are fine too if you want)….Seems like the only piece of evidence that even remotely points that way (and in opposition to all the other evidence) is the Treaty of Tripoli (for which there seem to be several theories to debunk it). What else does anybody have?

I’m not looking to stir up hostility….I ask this with great respect and look forward to intelligent answers. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hah. You want proof that the american government does not exist to exclusively endorse christianity?

"the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;"
-John Adams, Treaty of Tripoli

There you go. That's from an official treaty of the united states with another nation, written by one of the founders of america and one of the framers of the constitution. It doesn't get any more clear than that.
And no, you can't "debunk" it; it is exceeding clear. It's in american law. It's a well established document that is part of the nation's history.

Look up the treaty for yourself if you doubt this.

Here's another quote, this one from Thomas Jefferson:

"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law."
[Thomas Jefferson, February 10, 1814]

You want court decisions? Here you go.
Here's something from a supreme court decision in 1987:

"The Establishment Clause forbids the enactment of any law "respecting an establishment of religion" (4). The Court has applied a three-pronged test to determine whether legislation comports with the Establishment Clause. First, the legislature must have adopted the law with a secular purpose. Second, the statute's principal or primary effect must be one that neither advances nor inhibits religion. Third, the statute must not result in an excessive entanglement of government with religion. "
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/edwards-v-aguillard.html

It's called the "Lemon test"; it's a test to see whether or not something is unconstitutional, as regards to religion.

That test is a clarification of the constitution; as Justice O'Connor said in a supreme court decision, it means plainly that any endorsement of a religion by the government is unconstitutional:

"The Establishment Clause prohibits government from making adherence to a religion relevant in any way to a person's standing in the political community. Government can run afoul of that prohibition...[by] endorsement or disapproval of religion. "
http://candst.tripod.com/tnppage/eclause2.htm

There you go. Again, plainly and clearly stated: the government can not and should not endorse any religion, much less christianity.

Answer 2

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
- Ben Franklin

"God is an essence that we know nothing of. Until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world."
"As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion ... The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation."
- John Adams

"Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one-half the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth."
"Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law."
"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter."
- Thomas Jefferson

"If they are good workmen, they may be of Asia, Africa, or Europe. They may be Mohometans, Jews or Christians of any Sect, or they may be Atheists."
- George Washington

The founding fathers weren't Christian, they were Deist. The reason I posted those quotes is because it makes no sense that they would try to create a "government that was meant to exclusively endorse the Christian faith" if they themselves didn't even follow it.

Answer 3

Tons of it. Start right here -------> http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/summer97/secular.html

Even though it does list the treaty with Tripoli, it points out other interesting tidbits about the founding fathers.

I also read once that the early america was about 20% christian, with numbers steadily rising since then. Don't remember if it was a graph or report based on census figures or what, but I am trying to find the information so I can give a source, if not a link. Had it broken down by decade and percentage of americans who identified themselves as 'christian'.

Sorry I can't recall more. I do a lot of research for my writing, and when I'm done with an article or paper, I tend to forget the original source unless I can find my notes. If I do think of or find anything else, I'll edit this later with the reference.

~Morg~

ETA: There are mosques and temples all over California. So we're an Islamic-Christian-Jewish-Buddhist nation if you drive around Sacramento and start counting buildings.

Chris - I believe it was the historical references the OP was asking for as it is usually argued by christians that the US was 'historically' christian and has been doing a backwards slide away from it. While no one can argue with the fact that this country does indeed have a christian majority, they are dead wrong if they say this was always the case.

Answer 4

Actually it's really simple. Although America was invaded by Christians, the Native Americans, who practice earth-based religion, were here first and "founded" this continent.

Our government as we know it now was drafted by Christians, however they were very careful not discriminate against any religion since one of the arguments the founding fathers had with England was religious intolerance. Of course, the Pilgrims were Puritans and nobody in Europe could stand them, that's why they bounced around Europe for awhile than ended-up sailing to America.

It's all right here, nothing more, nothing less. Don't try to read between the lines, there is nothing hidden there. It's very clear.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

Although our governement was founded by Christians, this one sentence proves beyond any doubt they never intended the U.S. to be a "Christian nation". They intended it to be multi-cultural and thus multi-religious.

Answer 5

While our founding fathers may have been 'enlightenment' thinkers, the nation itself, was populated by all sorts of religious fanatics, who would be what you and I would call, the voting public. eh???

I 'm sure you heard of the Puritans, yes???

An interesting book on early religious groups in the U.S. can be found in "Socialism in America:From the Shakers to the Third International" by Albert Fried.

Below is an article about the ACLU battle to ban the Bible or permit the Qur'an in North Carolina Courts.

Also go to the ACLU website and look up current court cases.

Answer 6

I don't think that this country was created as a Christian nation. I do believe it was created with a presupposition of Christian beliefs, ethics and morality in the vast majority of it's citizens. I think that this is one reason why the citizenry were allowed the freedoms they were given in this country. The understanding of a prevailing system of morality allowed the constituition to be written without having to address certain issues. I think this also indirectly is reflected in the troubled history many countries have had in their attempts at representative democracy. Even in a post-Christian America, Judeo-Christian beliefs color our perception of what is acceptable and what is not.

Answer 7

do you mean christian nation by virtue of the laws passing all over this christian land that gives right of marriage to the same sex?or possibly christian because prostitution and gambling,alcohol are legal and encouraged ?maybe the fact that you cant even pray in your schools anymore would give you the nerve to say such a silly thing like this is a christian nation.and what true christian would claim such a wicked and adulterous society?oh,maybe you?

Answer 8

Many "Christians" would say that the United States is founded upon their religion, but is this really true? In fact, this falsehood could not be more blatant!

The following quotations clearly refute this LIE told by "Christians" frequently.

"Even if God himself had tried to tell us that three was one . . . and one equals three, you and I would never have believed it. We would never fall victims to such lies."
--President John Adams

"We discover [in the gospels] groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstition, fanaticism and fabrication."
--President Thomas Jefferson

The rape stories of the Bible have influenced the minds of Christians worldwide. Here is an example of how Christianity has given birth to the social corruptions today:

A Zion Christian Church leader has been charged with rape for apparently taking a 12-year-old church member as his second wife when he could no longer have sex with his pregnant wife.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1655293,00.html

Answer 9

Look up the Treaty of Tripoli. In it, it was expressly stated that the USA was not founded as a christian nation.

Answer 10

Lets see, founding fathers allowed the following "non-christian" conditions to exist as part of government:

Slavery, Death Penalty, Segregation, Mass murder of indigenous people, prostitution, and child labor, to name a few. (That's about, what, five commandments totally ignored by our founding fathers?)