sigh, one more time.. Was the U.S. founded on Christian principles?

Question

I swear I'm going to nominate this for a drinking question.

The Treaty of Tripoli 1798 CLEARLY states "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion"

This was written during George Washington's administration, was unanimously voted in by the second Congress
(no absences, no one abstained) during Adam's administration.. it was published in the two major newspapers of the time without even so much as a letter to the editor in protest. Do we get it yet?

Answer 1

billybob are you really that stupid that you don't know god was only added to the pledge in the 1950's during the Cold War?

No, the US was not founded on Christian principles, it was founded on FREEDOM for ALL.

Answer 2

Authored by American diplomat Joel Barlow in 1796, the following treaty was sent to the floor of the Senate, June 7, 1797, where it was read aloud in its entirety and unanimously approved. John Adams, having seen the treaty, signed it and proudly proclaimed it to the Nation.

Annals of Congress, 5th Congress

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

Answer 3

As a European, this debate always amuses me. I fail to see why it even matters what sort of religion the founding fathers had. When I look at my own little country, I don't even know what religion the first Dutch King had, or whatever. Nor do I care.

However, looking at the USA from far away, it _is_ a Christian nation. Many political decisions are made based on a Christian majority.

Answer 4

Even though the US wasn't founded on christian principals, I guess a believer could argue that some of the principals are shared with christianity. Which ones, I'm not sure, but I'm almost positive there is someone out there who could think of something.

The United States represents trading institutional authority for the rights of the individual -- something that certainly isn't christian. The founding fathers were undeniably deists, an idea which is more reflective of the foundations of the country than christianity.

Answer 5

You have to read everything from those days . Not one document. Check this out. http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm

Here is a sample
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

Answer 6

the three branches of government come from Isaiah 33:22 "For the Lord is our decide, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; he will save us" As on your different statements, Its no longer particular costs from the Bible in line with say that convey approximately the top that this united states became into in line with Biblical innovations, it is the ideas-set of the founding fathers, a number of their costs, etc. right this is a quote from John Jay, first chief justice of the ideally suited courtroom, "providence has given our human beings the alternative of their rulers, and it is the activity, to boot as privilege and pastime, of a Christian united states to opt for and prefer Christians for their rulers." So Jay for sure concept that this became right into a Christian united states. He became into between the founding fathers so i think of he'd have a reasonably good concept. As for the completed "Separation of Church and State"...its no longer interior the form everywhere. that's a word that became into taken thoroughly out of context. It became into in a letter written via then president Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Society. The context of the letter became into that the form had created a wall to maintain the government from interfering faith, yet no longer that Biblical innovations weren't area of the government.

Answer 7

BillyBob said: "It's in the freaking pledge of allegiance for pete's sake!"

Did you know the original pledge of allegiance did not have "Under God"? That this was not added to the pledge until The Cold War? IT wasn't until NINETEEN-FIFTYFOUR (Almost TWO HUNDRED YEARS after we became a nation) that these words were added. So should something from 200 years later be used to prove whether our country was founded on Christian principles?

Answer 8

The Founding Fathers, in their Wisdom, had greater common sense than the rest of the people who had colonized America at that time. Many groups with strange and/or extreme religious views were deported to America from the Old World. The senators and whut-not all knew their neighbors were crazy and didn't want their frothy-mouthed madness to taint the experiment of a strictly secular government. The neo-cons have no respect for the Founding Fathers or secular government. Bush is their ideal president. We have now had a taste of their corrupt, evil vision and must make sure it isn't allowed to happen again.

Answer 9

Yes.

James Madison, the 4th president, known as " The Father of our Constitution" made the following statement; " We have staked the whole of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each other and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God"

Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said; " It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

Answer 10

All one has to do is look at our currency, the architecture of our court houses and Govt. buildings, and the faith of our founding Fathers. History proves this is true and we are reminded of it every day, when Congress opens with a word of prayer, or when we see the 10 commandments hanging in our courtrooms or emblazoned in the architecture of these structures. Have you ever recited the pledge of allegiance?
"One Nation, Under God"
To say this nation was not founded on Christianity, is in total opposition to the historical data and facts.

Answer 11

Yes it was! I am so glad you asked! See, they've changed that treaty alot over time. It did'nt really say that. All of our Presidents were Christian, even Ben Franklin! I know because hes said so.