Why o' why do people keep saying our country was founded under God?

Question

I don't mean to sound ant-religion, but I just get sick and tired of the Christian right saying our "fore-fathers would be rolling over in their graves" at our country today over issues like abortion and gay marriage. The last time I checked, the whole reason our country was founded was for religious freedom. i personally believe our fore-fathers would be rolling over for what the Christian right is trying to do to our Constitution. the very first sentence in the Constitution speaks of religious freedom and discusses separation of church and state. that must mean its important. someone please explain what is happening here?

Answer 1

I will limit my comments to :
I. The Pledge DID NOT originally have the words "Under God" in it, and WE CAN AND DO have it in our public schools.

II. The Separation of CHurch and State was a phrase coined by Jefferson, who wrote to the Danbury Baptists of Connecticut. My guess is that he would be annoyed by extremists on both ends. Sure, he WAS religious and believed in God, but he also believed that Church should stay out of government. The Supreme Court has agreed, and holds that the First Amendment DIRECTLY IMPLIES the concept embodiued by the phrase "Separation of CHurch and State." Even John Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas would not argue that "SInce the First Amendment does not say anything explicitly about CHurch -State separation, it does not exist." They realize this argument is a load of crap.

Answer 2

Actually,

The Forefathers were very religious people and its much more likely that they'd be appalled at the direction the country has gone as far as abortion goes. Gay marriage--who knows if they could have even imagined it, so no knowing if they would have approved...

They treasured the idea of religious freedom, but had no inkling of the kinds of things that 200 years of technology would have mae possible, and might well have spelled ot certian aspects of the constitution with more explicit language if they had.

There is a bunch of corrollary literature writtten by the framers of the Constitution in order to explain and defend that document as it was in the process of ratification. They never intended that the US become an atheist nation. They just didn't want the government to tell people Which religion they would have to practice. The supreme court often refers to these documents when they decide Constitutional matters.

They prayed for God's guidance when writing the Constitution, even.

Answer 3

Stop complaining. Who are the "people" you criticize for saying this? The puritans in Massachusetts fled England because of what they called religious persecution. They founded the first public school system in the country based on their beliefs. They allowed prayer, and the celebration of Thanksgiving (instituted in Charlestown, MA) instituted thereafter. Based on these same principles. Christmas is here - now some peple are singing carols, and lighting trees. Why don't they also take Christmas and Easter out of schools too ? The puritans no longer have control over public schools but the government does. So who makes the rules? . . . when we take away spiritual principles from educational institutions it will not be like the original institution, neither will it ever be. We have a generation who are morally destitute and would complain about anything without a valid reason to see the true light.

Answer 4

Most wars and conflict are over the choice of religion. This war, if we didn't find any weapons of mass destruction then why are we still there? These people have been fighting for hundreds and hundreds of years. I say leave them alone and bring our people out and let that be the end of it. The world is screwed up! And maybe it will get straightened out soon, as far as the middle east is concerned. Our fore fathers wrote those things trying to protect our individual rights to worship as we wish. We were a God fearing nation. But, through time changes have been made or added too. It's a shame people have to go through any of this. It's sad...........

Answer 5

Hey idiot!

Did you actually read the Constitution? Or, can't the athiest-left read above the 2nd grade level?

The Constitution does not say separation of church and state! It says, "The Congress shall pass no laws establishing a religion". It simply means there cannot be a state-sponsored religion. Why oh why do we on the right have to constantly explain to you morons, the obvious to anyone with an IQ above 30.

Answer 6

RIGHT ON MAN!You said it!You just don't know how right you are!The religious right speaks for only 10%-15%,of all us Christians!This country was founded on on religious freedom and these stupid fuc*s are trying to take it away just so they can make everybody else do as they say-THAT"S NOT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM,that's FASCISTS DOCTRINE,and that's what the founding fathers were trying to keep out of our beautiful country!If only more people would just think for themselves like we all were taught to do back in the day,now i am afraid our children are being taught to believe everything the government tells you or you are not a good American-and what child doesn't want to be a good American?

Answer 7

Our country? You talk as if the Native Americans, who had been living here for over 50,000 years, held no claim to the place. European history makes North America sound like it was a vacant lot just waiting to be occupied. Many of the ideas enacted in our government today were based on Native American principles. Without their influence this would have just been another kingdom.
By the way, if you really want to know what's going today, its all about how much these people can get for themselves.

Answer 8

All things change with time. Regarding your subject: God, Country and Government, they must evolve also.

As much as it hurts or makes a person angry, our system of government as it relates to God and country takes a lot of hits from the far side but, for good reason.

There needs to be discussion always, there needs to be different sides always, and there needs to be challenge always.

Wouldn't we be similar to the people we don't like if there was only one way? And, there wasn't room for challenge?

Answer 9

It was founded on the belief in God. The founders of our country were Christians, and they knew what it was like to be suppressed. They founded a Christian country, but guaranteed that other religions would not be punished. Yes, it is free, but it is based on Christianity.

Answer 10

You ever heard of the may flower compact? Even though it's not todays consitutiion it still shows that people came to this country for religious reasons.