Was America founded on the concept of Christianity?

Question

From what i remember in history class in 3rd grade, the british came here to escape govt involvement in their way of life, education etc...which includes religion.
Why do some people think the laws of the country are based on Chrstianity?

Answer 1

One of Jefferson's (as in Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence for you home schoolers) most famous quotes is:

"I have sworn upon the altar of god, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

That was said, not about Atheists, but about organized Christian religion. Jefferson and many of his contemporaries were Deists. They viewed god as a watchmaker who set the universe running and then sat back to watch it. They would have been amazed at how backward some of the Christian beliefs remain but they would not have been surprised by the vehemence of the Christians' attacks.

Answer 2

Understand that most Christians confuse the colonization of the Americas with the founding of the nation.

The original settlers were overwhelmingly Christian, and were moving specifically for that reason. In this sense, many of the colonies were founded as Christian colonies. This started to see a rapid downfall, however, after the Salem Witch Trials, when the governor of Massachusetts forbade spectral evidence when the girls pointed their murderous fingers at his wife.

When the founding fathers came together, most were Christian in one form or another, but many of the authors of the documents were in fact Deists. So why did the Christians sign off on Deistic texts?

Had any one of the Christian groups won, the other groups would have been slighted. The Deists really ultimately had no stake in that war, so were a logical neutral position, and one that ensured that no matter what faith was believed, it could be practiced in good faith so long as the civility of the society was maintained. Thus, the Christians among the founding fathers knowingly and intentionally signed off on Deistic documents, to ensure their own continued freedom to worship as they saw fit.

The physical colonization was Christian in origin, however, the legalistic founding of the USA (the Declaration of Indepedance and the Constitution of the USA) was Deistic in nature, and did not describe any one true correct religion. In fact, the Declaration references only once the Creator (a term Deists use since it's the only definition they ascribe to the divine), and the Constitution never mentions a creator at all.

Further, Washington signed off on the Treaty of Tripoli which outright stated that the USA was in no way founded as a Christian nation -- which is true. The nation was founded on Deistic principles, even though the colonies were founded on christian principles.

Once you separate the two types of involved 'foundings', the issue becomes very clear.

Answer 3

The founding fathers were Christians, and in the wisdom of the teachings of Christ they laid out the Constitution and founded the country. Revisionist history has tried to weed out any evidence that they were Christian and is calling them Diests, but if you look into the actual writings of people like George Washington, there is no doubt that he was a Christian. A letter written by his adopted daughter said that to question his Christianity was like questioning his patriotism. No one who knew him would do that.

They came here to escape persecution in many areas yes, and one of them was religion. England had a state religion at the time, so our laws wisely prohibit such a thing from happening here. They did not make this a solely Christian nation, they made it a place where people were free to choose. That principle is Biblical. The laws, as originally written, do not violate the laws of the Bible. They embrace the wisdom in the Bible.

Answer 4

The Puritans didn't "escape" England. They didn't leave to escape religious persecution, they were KICKED OUT for persecuting everyone else, and trying to overthrow the English government to establish a theocratic state. They had planned on assassinating the Prime Minister and all of the Parliamentarians who disagreed with them. You don't have to believe me; it's all been well-documented, but you'll never hear a Christian refer to the history written by real historians. They prefer the history written by their ministers.

And no, the USA was NOT founded on "Christian principles." It was founded on the concept of equality, freedom, and the dignity of man (I know many of the Founding Fathers were slave owners. I get it, OK? That's beside the point: The point is intent). Freedom of worship was meant to include all faiths, not just Christianity.

Answer 5

There were many Christians that composed the Founding Fathers. But I believe that they wanted to stay away from the horrors of a Government recognized religion-- as in the "Official State Religion."

They were not that far away from the Trials of the Inquisition, and the Anglican Church was all too present in their minds. They simply avoided all of that. So is it :"Christian Principles?" No, I don't think that it was. But I do think that the fair-mindedness of them was an influence that Christianity brings to some. They had a right to their beliefs, and they wanted that right to be mantained throughout the colonial future. Thus; no inquisitions, and no enforced going to church.

John Adams and John Hancock:
We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus! [April 18, 1775]

Answer 6

America was not founded on the principles of Christianity, but on the principals of individual rights, freedom from Royalty and being ruled over and controlled by a King/Queen and by the guarantee that there would never be any state-sponsored and enforced religion.

Answer 7

I really do not know. I do know that over the years, many people came to America to escape discrimination and religious freedoms that we have. That does NOT MEAN that we were founded on Christianity. However, there were a number of the original founding fathers who believed in GOD. Have a great day.
Eds

Answer 8

The founding fathers wisely saw the dangerous history of combining religion in Government-so they insisted on a separation of church & state. When we see "born again" Christian President George W Bush telling Palestinian President,Mahmoud Abbas that"God told me to attack Iraq"--we can appreciate just how wise the founding fathers were!!

Answer 9

Many of the founding fathers were not Christian. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were Deists.

To clear up another answer, the pilgrims were escaping the Anglican Church - not the Catholic church. And Mary-land was named by its Catholic founders who needed the freedom of religion to be Catholic.

The premise was freedom of all religions.

Answer 10

Because conservatives are ignorant enough to think Christians founded the country. Read some history - don't believe what others say. That includes Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh!