Christians: are you aware of the Treaty of Peace between the United States and Tripoli from 1797 that reads...

Question

"Article 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 tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims], - and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan [Muslim] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interuption of the harmony existing between the two countries." The treaty was passed unanimously in the Senate after being read aloud. HOW then can Christians STILL insist that this is a "Christian Nation" when even early Founders like George Washington (who began the negotiations) and John Adams (under whom it was signed) agreed with the language of the above Treaty?!? WHY was there no uproar from Congress over the "Unchristian" tone of the Treaty - unless they knew FULL WELL that the United States was NOT founded on Christianity???

Source: American Gospel - God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation (Author Joh Meacham)

Answer 1

sisterzeal –

No, it is not just “he says”: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm


There is not a single mention of God, Jesus, or Christianity anywhere in the US Constitution The issue was discussed and the Founding Fathers voted God out, intentionally. The democratic republic they created was the first 100% secular government in human history.

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"The founders of our nation were nearly all Infidels, and that of the presidents who had thus far been elected [Washington; Adams; Jefferson; Madison; Monroe; Adams; Jackson] not a one had professed a belief in Christianity....
"Among all our presidents from Washington downward, not one was a professor of religion, at least not of more than Unitarianism."

 The Reverend Doctor Bird Wilson, in a sermon preached in October, 1831, first sentence quoted in John E Remsberg, "Six Historic Americans".
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"I have diligently perused every line that Washington ever gave to the public, and I do not find one expression in which he pledges, himself as a believer in Christianity. I think anyone who will candidly do as I have done, will come to the conclusion that he was a Deist and nothing more."

 The Reverend Bird Wilson, in an interview with Mr. Robert Dale Owen written on November 13, 1831, which was published in New York two weeks later
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THOMAS JEFFERSON

"The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites."

"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity." –Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.

"And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors." –Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823

"Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologies."

"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature."

"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man."

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JAMES MADISON

"In no instance have . . . the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people."

"Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."

"What influence in fact have Christian ecclesiastical establishments had on civil society? In many instances they have been upholding the thrones of political tyranny. In no instance have they been seen as the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty have found in the clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate liberty, does not need the clergy."

During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution."

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."

Answer 2

Although it is true that the founding fathers did not want to choose one religion over another, the reason they did this was primarily because they were forced, in England, to adopt the religion of the king. By making the United States a government outside of church, they allowed everyone to practice whatever religion they wanted. However, the main reason for the founding of many colonies (that later developed into states) was religious in basis. Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn so that Quakers could practice free from the Puritans in Salem. The Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock wrote the first governmental document, The Mayflower Compact, which later became very important in the writing of the Constitution and this document was extremely religious as well as perhaps being a little common sense. So anyone who really thinks that our country was NOT founded on sometype of religious principles is mistaken. Even the Greeks Democratic Republic, which our country's set up was model after, came from Greek philosophy which was part of their religious practices. Good morals, right and wrong, are common sense. But when talking about the founding of our country, we need to look at all their is - then and now.

Answer 3

This nation is not a "Christan Nation" like some seem to think. Now, it may say "God" in various of the founding statements, but I think that just means whatever higher power, (whether divine or not) and any mans god (whether God, Allah, Yahweh, Vishnu, etc.) Also, this country is heavily based off of English government and culture as well, so most of the laws we have (the earlier ones at least) are based heavily (if not copied directly from) the English laws. Also any and every country (that I know of, if you have a counterexample please, let me know) has the same basic morals as we do, not only that, but from what I know, most countries have some law over not killing people and many laws that are in America, even the non-Christian ones. How do Christians explain that then? Ah well...hope this helps!! ^_^

Answer 4

I am a Christian and I am aware.
I do find some of the different writings from the past confusing as to if the US was found on Christian principles or not.
Here we have what you quoted and if you have time read this page. http://watkins.gospelcom.net/foundingfathers.htm
Seems like some of the original leaders were Christian and some were not.

Answer 5

SisterZeal his point was the FOUNDING FATHERS, the men who wrote the bloody contitution even stated they THEY did NOT mean for this to be a Christian Nation. So now they didn't know what they were talking about? They wrote the bloody thing.

Answer 6

Of course the US wasn't founded IN Christianity, but it was founded ON Christian...or Judaism, or Islam, or any other religion that has morals like not murdering, stealing, etc...etc...etc...

But this country, never was, or is a "Christian Nation" If it were there wouldn't be a freedom of religion, now would there????

Answer 7

I personally don't care what religion the United States was founded upon. It doesn't matter today.

The US is a melting pot of all cultures and religions, whose rights to exist is protected by its Constitution. That ALL that matters.

No one religion owns this great nation, period! They ALL own it.

Answer 8

i dont think there is a legal precedent for the idea that the US is Christian, I think the fact that most of the people in it (ie-the citezenry, the electorate and the people in general) are. This is why Christian ethics are so important for our system.

Answer 9

Ahh yes the Tripoli conflicts - when America was fighting Islamic terrorists. My how times have changed.

Answer 10

Christians will live in denial forever.