Is this true????

Question

Is it true that the only reason that people of belief systems other than Christianity are allowed to worship freely in the US, is because when the God-fearing christians founded this great nation, they, out of the goodness of their hearts, allowed other religions to worship their differing Gods, or no Gods at all?

Nothing like patting yourself on the back, is it????

I've heard this used so many times to justify why christians "put up" with people of differing religious practices (or no religious practices at all)...and was just curious as to your thoughts on it.

Answer 1

Yeah I know--constantly its on here "this nation was founded by god" and "I'd never allow one of them [atheist, pagans, other "wrong people"/nonchristians] a position of government" despite that government has NOTHING to do with religion.

Yes they truly believe that the Christians allowed them to freely practice. Funny when they were getting their a55es run out of Europe, screaming about religious persecution--they were far more tolerant of other religions. By 1700, several towns practiced multiple different religions in this New World. But allow them to have their way and we will beat that phrase out of the 1st Amendment.

Unfortunately you are right--but they definitely won't see it. If they can't tolerate your position, how can they possibly think you may be right in anything else?

Answer 2

It is true that the majority of the founding fathers did believe in God. I am not so sure about the "fearing" part, but, I am sure the vast majority of them believed in God.

The people who came to the United States were people who had different ideas than the people back home and had the courage to try new things. The word "liberal" really means relating to free (liber=free al=relating to) it is not specifically for or against freedom so I wouldn't call them liber-al. More like pan-liber (all free).

The idea behind freedom was that it allowed people who were otherwise restricted by their position in society, their religion, their race (yes, I know nothing is perfect) or even their sex (yes, perfecting again) to achieve things that would have been otherwise impossible.

For example one of the richest slave owners in South Carolina was a black man. It was also easier for Women to succeed in the United States than it was in Europe, Africa or the Middle East. This is not to say that it was Easy, just that it was Easier in the US than it was in other nations and it is still easier for minorities to become successful in the US than it is anywhere else in the world.

Thomas Jefferson makes it plain in the Danbury Baptist letter that the idea of a separation of church and state applied to SECTS of Christianity as opposed to any religion at all.

Regardless of that, I am rather glad that most religions, with the exception of those based in fertility (pornia, the root of pornography and translated to the word fornication in the Bible) rites, are allowed to worship freely in the United States.

PS "Deists" as if people cannot read. Thomas Jefferson believed in the Bible so much that he did his own translation of the Gospels. Thomas Jefferson also understood Islam so well that he is the first President to have declared war on an Islamic nation for state sponsored terrorism.

You have to pity people who only read propagandistic trash. Check out Jefferson's correspondence and memoirs, easily downloadable on line.

Answer 3

This country was founded on Christian principles. This country was sought out because of religious persecution from the Mother Church of England.
The reason people can worship what they choose is because of the separation of church and state that many misinterpret.
This means the government has no right to make you worship one way or another.
They violate their own sanctions by removing religious symbols from court yards.
Just let them try to remove a Masonic symbol and see how far that goes. It'll probably never make the news before it is put to a stop.
we have a shady past and present in our govt. Very dark thoughts at work in this nation.
People, hang on to the God of Abraham , Isaac, and Jacob, Remembering Jesus said "he that endures to the end would be saved.
There is a bumpy road ahead, regardless of all the pre trib talk you here on T.V.
Shalom to my fellow believers.

Answer 4

No. The reason for the establishment clause of the first amendment to the constitution was the fear that a national religion could result in the elected government being undermined from the pulpit.

Using British history as an example, Henry VIII formed the Church of England to escape from what he deemed as Papal meddling in his countries affairs. Of course, he just traded one master for another but at least had the wisdom to name the monarch as Defender of the Faith and leader of the Church. But it has caused problems from time to time.

The American founding fathers, while having little or no difficulty with religion in the church, home, schools or even dictating public morality, they didn't want any particular creed attached to the government.

The establishment clause guarantees our freedom of religion not a freedom from religion as so many would have us believe.

Answer 5

It's true that the founding fathers protected the rights of all to worship in their own way or to not worship at all, but we know from their writings that they were primarily concerned with preventing the government from establishing a national religion.

Answer 6

Pretty close, actually.

When the word "religion" appeared in the first amendment, it was intended to mean "denomination of Christianity." They had never intended any religion besides Christianity to become part of the nation. So, no, that was not their intention at all--they never even considered the possibility that other religions would become in any way dominant.

But they realized that different people had different perspectives on Christianity. Also, they recognized that this nation was originally colonized by people seeking to worship God in a way that their governments in Europe were persecuting them for.

Answer 7

I've been an American all my life and I have heard that this country was founded on freedom of religion.

There are groups who abuse this by creating hate groups and calling them religions.

So no you are wrong it wasn't founded just for Christians it was founded as I said for freedom of religion, though they had God in mind they have put up with non religions calling themselves religions, like the KKK for example.

The KKK started over a bunch of white boys wanting to kill black boys and their families.
What a wonderful religion.

Answer 8

Adam,
NOT according to what I have read about our founding Fathers. They were more concerned with the number of immigrants from all nations having the ability to be free from religious poersecution. There were a number of early settlers who were persecuted in the European countries and they did NOT want this in our country. Have a nice week.
Thanks,
Eds


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Answer 9

When the Constitution was written, it was written with the knowledge that there is a God and he is a supreme being and the creator of humans. Why don't you try actually reading the Constitution because the free religion you mention is found in the first ammendment, which was only added because the people were afraid that the government would sieze too much power and try to control religion- including Christianity. If you don't know, most of the residents of waht became the United States immigrated from their homes trying to seek religious freedom. The free practice clause was a protection for their religion, and now all religions.

Answer 10

Goodness of their hearts? No. Enlightened self- interest from fear of seeing state supported religion in Europe, yes.

They came from countries and experienced the problems this caused and with the rebel minded Americans, they did not want to be pinned down.