Is Christianity REALLY America's "True Faith"?

Question

Al Bedrosian, former political candidate for the Virginia General Assembly seems to think so.

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/wb/xp-127460
excerpts from his rantings . . .

As a Christian, I think it's time to rid ourselves of this notion of freedom of religion in America. .

Now that I have your attention, let me take a moment to make my case. Freedom of religion has become the biggest hoax placed upon the Christian people and on our Christian nation.

When reading the writings of our Founding Founders, there was never any reference to freedom of religion referring to a choice between Islam, Hindu, Satanism, Wicca and whatever other religions or cults you would like to dream up. It was very clear that freedom to worship meant the freedom to worship the God of the Bible in the way you wanted, and not to have a government church denomination dictate how you would worship. . . .


He admits that most Christians would disagree w/him. Do you agree or disagree ?

I want to make this very crystal clear, I TOTALLY & vehmently disagree with this man's rantings, and I certainly hope he is right when he estimates that 99% of Christians would disagree with him. (in fact I hope it is 0%) I hope this man is NEVER successful in any of his political aspirations.

Nondescrit -

Read the link I provided, the "true faith" comes from the article, the author is ranting on about Christianity being America's "true faith". Read the article & tell me if you agree or disagree.

nondescrit - As I was replying to your question "What do you mean by true faith" you edited out and changed your answer completely -- just want to make it clear, as I can not edit out my additional details. I agree, many of our founders were NOT Christian, but so many people believe the lies put out by the Christian Nationalist and claim that the founders were devout Christians who intended to found a Christian theocracy. This author is a flaming example of that, and he aspires to have a career in politicis.

nondescrit - As I was replying to your question "What do you mean by true faith" you edited out and changed your answer completely -- just want to make it clear, as I can not edit out my additional details. I agree, many of our founders were NOT Christian, but so many people believe the lies put out by the Christian Nationalist and claim that the founders were devout Christians who intended to found a Christian theocracy. This author is a flaming example of that, and he aspires to have a career in politicics.

This man who aspires to a political career is not only ignorant of his countries history, but that of his state as well.

He obviously is unfamiliar with Jeffersons'Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786) excerpt . . .

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."

Nowhere in there do I see it spelled that this only applies to Christians. NOWHERE at all !

alleninthehills So you agree that that ALL Americans should be deprived of their freedom of religion because at one point in history 97% of America was Protestant ? BTW, that figure has changed alot since then.

alleninthehills

http://www.religioustolerance.org/barna.htm

according to a gallup poll by a Christian polling organization only 45% surveyed are "true Chrisitians" . The rest are either non-Christian or what Gallup calls "notional" Christians, people who call themselves Christians but aren't born again.

http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/founding.htm#MYTHING

Newsflash for SANDART: David Bartons quotes are either outright FALSE or are QUESIONABLE. He himself has even asked people to stop using them. This whole Dominionist Christian Nation movement is built on revisionist history and outright LIES.

Answer 1

First, many of the Founding Fathers were not Christian, so that statement of his is false from the start.

In the Constitution, article six, it says that no religious test shall be required for public service. Note that it doesn't say anything there about government meddling in churches, like this man says. It also doesn't say anything about Christianity specifically. It says that anybody can hold public office, independent of any religion they may have.

In the Treaty of Tripoli, also, it says that the US, in no way, should be considered a Christian nation.

In the 1st Amendment to the Constitution, it says that government may make no laws which would establish a religion. That means that government cannot promote religion, plain and simple. To promote a religion would be to establish it more.

(Yes, I realized that about the reference to "true faith" after reading more. Still, "true faith" is such an empty term. It's akin to "true wishful thinking")

Answer 2

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and several other signers of the Declaration in Independence AND the U.S. Conctitution were Free Thinkers (What today would be considered Paganism). This is nothing but Christian propaganda to state that America is a Chrsitian nation and has bveedn so right from the beginning. The founding Fathers had NO intention of giving religion any kind of authority in the role of governing this nation. Just because the majority of America's citizens just HAPPEN to be Christian in no way means that America is a Christian nation. All references to God (The Christian God) came along WELL after the founding of the Nation and were pushed through during times that there was enough support in Congress to actually get those things passed. As the Supreme Court reviews those bits of legislation, they had unequivocally struck down ALL of them. I think that this last fiasco in the Halls of Congrees about the Buddhist prayer will be the straw that broke the camle's back with respect to the role of Christianity's influence in our government. Our leaders are beginning to recognize that America is made up of followers of MANY Faiths, even Faiths that do NOT recognize the God of Abraham, Jesus or any of the Abrahamic dogmas.

The final nail in the coffin has yet to be pounded in but MOST folks can SEE that it's long overdue. The bible has only existed as a complete work since about 440 AD. Satan was NOT a prominant fixture in Christianity prior to about 1,000 AD, and the role of ALL the Abrahamic Faiths in the killing of millions of innocent non-believers is being exposed. Also the current role of The Abrahamic followers with respect to crimes, and other forms of subterfuge in our society are being uncovered. America and the World are growing weary of these attempts at domination over ALL in the name of Religion. It won't be long before the entire population just decides to recognize that Religion should have NO power over the daily lives of everyone else and turn around and drive the Religious out of ANY role in governing, whatsoever.

Raji teh Green Witch

Answer 3

LOLOL well, I've never heard of this guy, but with a name like Al Bedrosian, I know I sure wouldn't vote him into office as the town rodent exterminator.

Unfortuntely there have always been wacky religious fanatics in the midst of the general population. In a distant past age they often held a great deal of power that came to them through a totally unseparated church/state religious dictatorship. In spite of the happy fact that they don't carry that kind of "official" clout any more, they still are allowed, in my opinion, far more license than they should be, to intrude into "normal" people's lives in other ways. They can stir hatred and discontent, spew poison, disseminate half-truths (the most dangerous kind of lie there is) and cause irreparable harm when they get control of the minds of the very young and impressionable, or the not-so young, but gullible. These exact same characteristics also pretty accurately define the KKK as well, which is hardly surprising because both kinds of fanaticism are cut from the same cloth.

I am glad that you said he was a "former" political "candidate". I would hate to think anybody had ever elected that kind of a nut into actual office.

Answer 4

America never is, was, or ever will be a "Christian" nation. The "Freedom of Religion" was basically WHY people came here in the first place. The Pilgrims left England because of religious oppression from the Church, and practically every group to come here since then has come seeking a better life.

All we need to look at is Saudi Arabia to learn that a theocracy is a poor idea. Between Sharia Law and non-Muslims being forced to pay an extra tax just to live there (not to mention they cannot practice their own religion), Saudi Arabia treats non-Muslims as second-class citizens. Whereas here, in America, you can assemble 20 different people in a room and have 20 different religions represented, and for the most part, they will be fine with each other.

Answer 5

Of course I disagree with Al Bedrosian, the First Amendment is "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."

Nowhere in that statement does it make a reference to ANY specific religion or god. In fact, NOWHERE in the Constitution, nor the Bill of Rights, does the word god appear at all. Nowhere.

Al is high.

Answer 6

Someone should tell the idiot that there is no reference to ANY particular belief. Christianity does not win by default. He obviously knows nothing of the Treaty of Tripoli, in which John Adams stated "The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense founded on the Christian religion". I have read quotes from Thomas Jefferson in which he refered to Jewish and Hindoo (as he spelled it) citizens as being as fully American as any other. Stupid asshole "Christians" like this dream up any lie they want to believe and deny the truth even when you throw in their faces.

alieninthehills, majority does not supercede the law, which ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT mention Christianity. If the writers of the constuitution had intended for the U.S. A. to be Christian nation under the Christian God, there is absolutely no reason to think that they would not have made that perfecty clear. Perhaps you should run for the Virginia assembly too, you suffer from the very same delusion as Bedrosian.

Answer 7

I think America should stand for religious freedom! All religions should be allowed there to practice and worship or not to worship depends on person. You cannot forceor dictate anyone to worship a God and in a particular way!
Even if you make laws, it is impossible!

And those who say they worship God are Hypocrats because they did not follow the teachings of Jesus in day today life!

Answer 8

Well, in my opinion, and im not saying im right and no one else is, I think the only person that can answer that question and be right , is the individual. If a person believes as Al does, then that is their beliefs and choice. But it most likely is not the belief of the rest of the population and no matter how bad Al may want to enforce it on the rest of the world, it would never stand a chance. Besides, none of us are gonna know if we have been right or wrong in our beliefs till that moment after we have taken all of our final breaths. Best of wishes!

Answer 9

Whomever wrote this crap is full of crap and needs to be locked up. Thier is no "true religion" this country was founded and based of religious freedom. That comes with the right to practice religion and the right not to practice religion or have someone else's religion forced upon you. I hate this type ignorance and xenophobic behavior this person needs a straight jacket and a room full of padded walls.

You know what's so funny, I was raised christian and believe a lot of what I was taught however, I have never believed that I had the right to push my beliefs on another, God gave everyone free will. I also, believe that as long as you believe in a higher power that it doesn't matter what you call yourself or what way you worship, God can hear you and all roads lead to the Creator. Whomever wrote or spoke that passage that you have is NOT a christian he's what I like to call is "histian" (his version of what a christian is). God says judge not lest ye be judged by the same standard. This guy is crazy and needs to be locked up, he is no better than terrorist that kill millions of people in the name of God when it's really aobut there quest for power!

Answer 10

Actually there were BOTH Christian and Non-Christian founders. I would appreciate if you all would read these links. There are many websites out there that claim in both directions. These are two of my favorite because they have references and facts, not just opinion and partial quotes from documents and founders:

http://www.creationists.org/churchandstate.html
"Research by David Barton, founder of Wallbuilders, Inc. exposes the alleged separation of church and state for the myth that it really is. The words separation of church and state don't appear in any official government documents authored by the founding fathers. This concept and these particular words were invented by... "

http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html
"Numerating the Founding Fathers"
"The three major foundational documents of the United States of America are the Declaration of Independence (July 1776), the Articles of Confederation (drafted 1777, ratified 1781) and the Constitution of the United States of America (1789). There are a total of 143 signatures on these documents, representing 118 different signers. (Some individuals signed more than one document.)

There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. There were 48 signers of the Articles of Confederation. All 55 delegates who participated in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 are regarded as Founding Fathers, in fact, they are often regarded as the Founding Fathers because it is this group that actually debated, drafted and signed the U.S. Constitution, which is the basis for the country's political and legal system. Only 39 delegates actually signed the document, however, meaning there were 16 non-signing delegates - individuals who were Constitutional Convention delegates but were not signers of the Constitution.

There were 95 Senators and Representatives in the First Federal Congress. If one combines the total number of signatures on the Declaration, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution with the non-signing Constitutional Convention delegates, and then adds to that sum the number of congressmen in the First Federal Congress, one obtains a total of 238 "slots" or "positions" in these groups which one can classify as "Founding Fathers" of the United States. Because 40 individuals had multiple roles (they signed multiple documents and/or also served in the First Federal Congress), there are 204 unique individuals in this group of "Founding Fathers." These are the people who did one or more of the following: "
http://www.adherents.com/gov/Founding_Fathers_Religion.html

For those of you still putting up with me, back to the second question posed: I read the referenced article http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/wb/xp-127460 and yes I do agree with the author.
Here are my two favorite statements, because they are true to my beliefs.
1. "Christianity, by its own definition, does not allow freedom of religion. A Christian is defined as a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus clearly states all through Scripture that he is the way and the only way to God the father. The Bible is clear in teaching us that we should have no other gods before him. Our God is a jealous God. As Christians, we should not be just going through a ritual of worship. We have a personal relationship with the God of all creation. You can't have this type of relationship alongside the worship of other Gods. "

2. "Beware, Christians, we are being fed lies that a Christian nation needs to be open to other religions. America is a great nation -- not because of its freedom, great economic system, or even its military power. It is a great nation because the God of the Bible has blessed us in our freedom, our wealth and our military power.
Once we remove ourselves from worshiping the one true God, all the wonderful qualities of America will vanish."

Too many professed Christians hardly open their Bible or study it's content. You may consider this harsh or unloving... by man's standards... but I stand on my Creator's word and His standards. I must answer to my God. Amen and Amen.