is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion". Why do many christians press the idea that it was, and is a christian built nation?
2007-03-12 18:12:57 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
The founding fathers were mired in a debate over states rights vs. federal government control. The Federalists vs. who were first called Anti-Federalists and later, Jeffersonian Republicans. The one thing they did not argue about was the need to make a governing document as secular as possible. The founders had lively discussions and wrote many different opinions about government and religion. They visited town churches often - it was a way to connect with the people. But there is no doubt that, for instance, Jefferson was a Deist, and Washington waffled about denomination a great deal.
The end result is the proof in the pudding. Many of our main ideals as a country did indeed come from the Puritans, in particular. But when the Constitution was drafted, the founders had every opportunity to put the question to rest forever and simply declare this a "Christian" nation. They chose not to do so. In fact they instead chose to make it very difficult for government and religion to mix. It's right there in black and white to read at anyone's leisure. If it gives comfort to some Christians to stubbornly believe the founders were all devout Christian men then let them have their illusions. It reminds me of one of my favorite sayings:
Never try to teach a pig to sing, it wastes your time and annoys the pig.
As long as they aren't successful in controlling our lives through inserting their religion into law they can proselytize until their faces turn green, it won't change history.
2007-03-12 19:38:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
...... actually, Christianity is one of the least tolerant religions of them all. Modern radical Islam has it beat, but Islam does not have the history of intolerance that Christianity does.
To answer the question: A strong majority of U.S. citizens are Christian, and vote. Hence, if they want to tell the world this is a Christian nation, they will vote into office people who empower them and adhere to their own ideologies.
It's also important to look not just at how this nation was founded, but why people came here in the first place. This was an escape route for people who had been persecuted on religious grounds. When they got here, they were free to practice the religion of their choice. For most of them, this was Christianity. It stands to reason that if 85% of the people are Christian, then the country will be set up and run by Christians in a Christian way.
It doesn't mean it's right or wrong, and it doesn't mean I agree with it (this was never a question about my opinion anyway) but that's the way it is. If only we had a consensus from everyone that religion has no place in politics, perhaps this would be a country that lived up to its own claims that we are all created equal and that we are all free to worship (or not worship) as we please.
2007-03-12 19:19:49 · answer #2 · answered by thebobcatreturns 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1796 Treaty With Tripoli
2016-10-14 01:33:08 · answer #3 · answered by mcquilkin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, it could possibly be because christians built this nation. Check out who the first immigrants were, christians who were fleeing from religeous persecution in England. They were known as "separatists." If you are trying to legitimate the spurious claim that the founding fathers were not christians then you have an uphill fight my friend. I personally have been to the churches where George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson worshipped. While I will not try to say that these great men were devout christians, (that is between them and god), I will say that at that time in our history churches were meeting places and to not belong to one was to not belong to the community. Don't believe me? check it out for yourself.
2007-03-12 18:53:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We say that the US is a Christian nation because everything about us (except 1 treaty) was steeped in Christian principals and traditions.
2007-03-12 18:16:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
there is a difference between being a Christian and using religion to influence government...there is nothing Christian about intolerance
2007-03-12 18:21:55 · answer #6 · answered by Ford Prefect 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They don't understand what a "deist" is, which was the religion of the majority of the founders.
2007-03-12 18:21:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because it makes them feel better.
What do facts have to do with faith, anyway?
2007-03-12 18:21:03 · answer #8 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋