Would you like a founding father answer to Christian Government?

Question

The legitimate powers of government extend to only such acts as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say that there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg.

* Thomas Jefferson, Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson, p. 254

Translation: Government should only step in when it comes to injury of a person. Since freedom of religion doesn't do that, it is not the government's place to have anything to do with religion.

Wow, look at this. Our country has REALLY changed:

I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

* former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, August 27 1987; quoted in Free Inquiry magazine, Fall 1988, Volume 8, Number 4, page 16

Answer 1

Most of the Founders were Deists and Agnostics, despite the propaganda from ultra-right wingers saying our country was founded on Christian values. I bet they'd crap their pants if they actually met Washington or Jefferson, a couple of pot-smoking anti-authority libertarians if I ever heard of any ;P

Answer 2

Consider Ken Burn's remake of Jefferson as a bigot for having written the words "all men are created equal" and then going further back in time to reveal his earlier sentiments shared by others at the time that Africans were less human. It's true he was probably raised with those views like everyone else at the time but what made him remarkable was that he evolved, he opened his eyes to wisdom, truth and justice, and when he wrote "all men are created equal" he also put abolition of slavery into the Declaration Of Independence, as he had into his draft of the Virginia State Constitution, and as he tried to influence the Bill of Rights (but was shipped overseas to France to get him out of the way). During FDR's Presidency Jefferson was idolized by democrats, that's why they built his monuement (which he never wanted). But after conservatives starting qouting him the left turned Jefferson into a bible thumper neocon. So no, I wouldn't like to be a "founding father", we had good ones, people just need to realize that if they don't like what we have, don't move her and try to take over our government, this is the one my ancestors fought and died for, it always could be a little better, it defintely could be a lot worse. No one is "forced" to believe any religion in this country, attend services or look at nativity scenes or ten commandments. The issue of morality as teh basis for our laws and principles, however, can't be denied without destroying the foundation of the government, wherever and whenever that has been tried in the history of man it has only lead to chaos and destruction. I just beg that before people start knocking down institutions, they stop to understand where these institutions evolved from, in tribal times when one group (anthropologists suggest about 150 people) decides to attack, kill, enslave or eat another. And I do have a fear of being trapped in an elevator with fat hungry people. Keep studying Jefferson and you can't go wrong, and I'd suggest there is much in Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, and John Locke you should read to. Ben Franklin is enjoyable (as is Mark Twain or Will Rogers), Friedrich Von Hayek, Milton Friedman and Ludwig Von Mises are a bit more ponderous, but their point is man has not changed any since Plato's day, neither has his behaviour. there is nothing new that hasn't already been suggested or tried, it's just that failures keep being forgotten and repeated.

Answer 3

Nobody now or then is seeking a "Christian government". That's a canard, a throw-away accusation.

The facts exists that:
1. Many of the founding fathers were deeply Christian - a number of them were even ministers or had studied for the ministry.

2. The issue that concerned them was a state religion like England had, where the king was also the "defender of the faith" and head of the church. Many of the states started with state religions, because they were founded by religious sects.

3. You will note that he never said anything about whether the local government displayed religious symbols or whether people should be stopped from publicly espousing their beliefs at school graduations.

4. Lastly, the concepts of human rights as embodied in the Bill of Rights, was created by Christians. White, Anglo Christians. These were important to the creators of the Constitution.

So, claiming that Christianity had nothing to do with the Constitution is an absurd distortion of a simple truth.

Answer 4

I think it is important to remember what is actually written in our Constitution.
Amendment I. - Religion, Speech Assembly, and Petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

This is what matters guys, not what religion the individual founding fathers were. They didn't all follow the same religion and they came together knowing that it was important for our government to not be involved with religion. This is the only way that everyone can be free to follow their own beliefs. This isn't good for any religion. If the government suddenly became one specific sect of one religion would that really be a good thing? What religion would it be? Christian? Baptist? Catholic? Methodist? 7th Day Adventist? Mormon? Muslim? Buddhist? Hindu? (to name a few). What would that mean? What does it mean for a government? Let's face it, most of us feel very strongly about our own individual views. Would you want to be lead by a government of another religion?
The courts concluded that by using government funds to place religious icons on government property, the government was respecting a specific religion. There is nothing wrong with private displays of religious icons. This is legal and should be protected. There really is a huge difference. This protects each religion including yours, whatever it may be.

Answer 5

It's in the Constitution that the gov't can't interfere with religion. THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAN'T BAN ONE IN PUBLIC PLACES EITHER. A vast majority of Americans are Christians, yet the 10 Commandments cannot appear in the courthouse?? That's liberal gobbledygook.

Answer 6

Thank you for reminding people that this country was founded on freedom. And the great thing is, it costs nothing to be a patriot!

Answer 7

youre just another flag waiving heathen with no foundation in your believes....

Answer 8

Very good point.

Answer 9

they were Christians and you know that, as history shows. Is this a question or a statement ?

Answer 10

Go find something to do!