Do the following quotes prove our nation was founded as a Christian nation?

Question

Samuel Adams: “ He who made all men hath made the truths necessary to human happiness obvious to all… Our forefathers opened the Bible to all.” [ "American Independence," August 1, 1776. Speech delivered at the State House in Philadelphia]

and

“ Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity… and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.” [October 4, 1790]

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

John Adams:
“ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
–John Adams in a letter written to Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress

"I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen." December 25, 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson

John Quincy Adams:
• “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [the Fourth of July]?" “Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity"?
--1837, at the age of 69, when he delivered a Fourth of July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Benjamin Franklin: | Portrait of Ben Franklin
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech

Patrick Henry:
"Orator of the Revolution."
• This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”
—The Last Will and Testament of Patrick Henry

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.”

John Jay:
“ Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Source: October 12, 1816. The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Henry P. Johnston, ed., (New York: Burt Franklin, 1970), Vol. IV, p. 393.

Thomas Jefferson:
“ The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.”

“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.”

"I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus."

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” (excerpts are inscribed on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial in the nations capital) [Source: Merrill . D. Peterson, ed., Jefferson Writings, (New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984), Vol. IV, p. 289. From Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, 1781.]

Why is it so many are quick to say that we were not founded as a Christian nation, however when presented facts, the response is just..."Shut up"???

James Madison
“ We’ve staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all of our heart.”

“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” [1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia]

Sarge...you are right. And I don't believe anywhere here did I say that people are forced to be Christians...just that our nation was founded as a Christian nation. I believe this quote (quoted above) is 100% proof:
John Jay:
“ Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Source: October 12, 1816. The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Henry P. Johnston, ed., (New York: Burt Franklin, 1970), Vol. IV, p. 393.

George Washington:
“ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”

“What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.” [speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs May 12, 1779]

"To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian" [May 2, 1778, at Valley Forge]

Answer 1

My oh my, so many self-righteous self-deifying people here criticizing your simple but interesting question! What are they afraid of? Are they afraid to admit that there really IS a God because that would mean they really WOULD be totally responsible for their own actions and actually DO answer to a higher power? And look at how many people here appointed themselves as Lord High Rulers over Yahoo Answers and actually ORDERED you to shut up! Where do these people get off? There is no question that our nation was founded by men who believed in God the Father Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ, and there is no question that they are currently rolling over in their graves to see the flagrant abuse of the rights they guaranteed us which were meant to foster personal responsibility and accountability. Our Nation suffers and will continue to suffer because its citizens are so convinced of their own superiority that they do not see fit to acknowledge The LORD. Beware -- your reward may very well be living in a country where you must acknowledge and worship Allah or be put to death...

Answer 2

The quotes do seem to say that, but you can find quotes to back up any statement.

I do believe they intended it to be a Christian nation, though, as early laws mirror Christian laws (including some that aren't in practice anymore, such as making adultery a crime & the Blue Laws), as well as the fact that our Founders were Christians. Our nation was never meant to have a state religion, as shown in the First Amendment.

I think the Founders never fathomed that our country would become anything else but Christian; they probably figured that, by creating laws based on Christianity and considering the fact that pretty much everyone in the country at least believed in God (even if they lacked a relationship with Jesus Christ), the country would just be Christian, just as they probably figured everyone would speak English, though they didn't make English the official language.

Answer 3

In recent decades Christian advocacy groups, prompted by motives that have been questioned by some, have felt a powerful urge to enlist the Founding Fathers in their respective congregations. But recovering the spiritual convictions of the Founders, in all their messy integrity, is not an easy task. Once again, diversity is the dominant pattern. Franklin and Jefferson were deists, Washington harbored a pantheistic sense of providential destiny, John Adams began a Congregationalist and ended a Unitarian, Hamilton was a lukewarm Anglican for most of his life but embraced a more actively Christian posture after his son died in a duel.

Answer 4

What do you mean by a Christian nation? Does that mean other religions would be banned? The founders certainly didn't believe this!

Your quotes show most of the founders were devout Christians, and yet they all supported the first Amendment, which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." If they had wanted to establish a Christian theocracy, they could have easily done so. Or, even if they wanted to preserve freedom of religion and democracy, they could have easily declared the US was "a Christian nation" in the preamble. Why didn't they take this simple step?

Answer 5

Our laws are based on Judeo-Christian morality and common sense. Just because most of our founding fathers were devoutly religious does not mean that they intended to inflict one particular religion or another on the nation. Indeed, they had the wisdom to separate Church and State so neither one could control the other. Our perceptions of how that separation works has changed dramatically. I believe that they would approve prayer in school and religious expression in public places - they would not approve someone being forced to participate.

Answer 6

Yes, and we were allot better off living by God given principals.That's how we ought to live always and forever, but when you have multicultural stances and you call freedom "If it feels good do it" you complicate the very core of beliefs that once made this country great! You can't maintain stability when you have a melting pot of people who do not want to partake in the culture and language of the land...They must have religious understanding also....

As for the separation of church and state that is false and as I see it you can't have the one without the other..all through the bible there were great men and women of God that had government positions in high places Deborah was one of them..She was a righteous judge! (Old testament)

I believe you can you can have great progress and keep practical principals alive ..We would be better off if we did....Some of the standards today don't stand very well but humanity without God is ignorant ....After all there is nothing new under the sun! It seems to me that those beautiful quotes of yester years are ignored or disrespected ...And the ones that live by and respect them keep it to themselves......After all nobody wants to hurts feelings or step on toes!

Answer 7

What you don't get is that the word "Christian" meant something very different to some of these Enlightenment intellectuals than it does to the current crop of fundamentalist Christians out there.

Christianity was a set of moral ideas to the Founding Fathers people. Many if not all of these people believed that Jesus was not God or in any of the supernaturalistic elements. If these people talked to people today with their ideas of what Christianity and a Christian nation is, they'd think you were crazy.

Answer 8

Has there ever been a question as to whether or not our nation was founded as a Christian nation? Our forefathers had the courage to brake free from their religious and political "bonds". The only question that remains is whether or not we have the courage to continue their work. We must reinstate a since of community with the Christians of our country and realize that the morality of our children is at stake.

Answer 9

NOW HEAR THIS! whether or not you care to continue the tradition and solid history of utilizing the Christian re legion as the cornerstone of the creed and philosophy of America is one thing, do what you will. However, and for God's sake, admit that has been the cornerstone and what the "founding fathers" intended. You wanna change it? If you are sure, then change it. I am too weak and old to stop you. If that is what you want -- do it! But i ask, "Do you feel lucky punk!" It will not be the same it will implode. hah ha ha ha! you will all die!!! miserable rats jumping ships.

Answer 10

Those quotes obviously demonstrate that the founders of this nation were indeed Christians. The way in which they wrote the Constitution is even more telling. It demonstrates that even though they themselves were Christians they understood the importance of founding this nation in such a way that there would be no national belief system. Their writings and speeches prove that they were Christians. The Constitution they left us with prove that nobody else has to be.