Is America still predominantly Christian?

Question

If you lived in a country that was, say, predominantly Hindu, wouldn't you expect to see symbols of the Hindu faith displayed in public places? Wouldn't you expect to hear Hindu children saying Hindu prayers in school?
If you lived in a Muslim country, you would definitely expect such things.
If you lived in a country that was populated by followers of the FSM, you'd expect to see loads of people dressed in pirate gear...

So, why do you find it strange that, in a country that is predominantly Christian, that the Christians who live here would like to be free to express their faith where ever they happen to be?
Why should we have to take down our crosses and our commandments? They have been here for decades, and longer. Did you only now realize what they were?
Why shouldn't our children pray in their schools? Are you afraid your kid might hear a Christian prayer and be converted?
Why shouldn't we be who we are...why should we have to tiptoe around on eggshells?
We are Christians!

Answer 1

Well, it sure started out Christian!

" It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible". - George Washington

" The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty". -- Thomas Jefferson"

"That Book (the Bible), sir, is the Rock on which our Republic rests". - Andrew Jackson

"It is God who gave us life and liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are a gift from God?" - Thomas Jefferson

"It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God and to obey His will". -- George Washington

" We stake the whole future history of this nation upon the ablility of its people to govern & control themselves according to the 10 Commandments". -- James Madison ...Chief Archetect of the US Constistution and 2nd Pres. of US.

"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." - Patrick Henry

So why should we believe clueless atheists that are trying to convince us otherwise? I choose to believe our Founding Fathers and reject the atheists who are trying to re-write history to suit their own selfish agenda.

"America was founded as a Christian Nation according to John Adams: "The highest history of the American revolution is this:It connected in ONE INDISSOLUABLE BOND the principles of civil government with the principles of CHRISTIANITY". -- John Adam - 2nd President of the U S

" The American nation from its first settlement at Jamestown to this hour is BASED UPON and permeated BY THE PRINCIPLES OF THE BIBLE". Supreme Court Justice David Joseph Breiver (1837-1910)

Answer 2

You might recognize something about the countries you mentioned. None of them was founded by people designated that those nations would have no "national religion".

As for America being predominantly Christian, even your most vehement Evangelical would tell you that most people that check that designation on a form when asked aren't practicing, church-going Christians or if they are they certainly aren't the right-wing 'turn-or-burn' types.

There should be no one that has a problem with a church displaying religious symbols on their property, or with individual people doing the same.

The problem is when those religious symbols are placed on public property. This property belongs to everyone in the community. Not only Christians or Jews, but Hindus, Muslims and Pagans EQUALLY. Why should you be represented, but all of those others be excluded?

The argument that the country was started by Christians is flawed in that THOSE Christians never meant for Christianity to be sanctioned, promoted or even favored by the state. Despite feelings about their personal faith, this seperation of church and state is obviously what they meant for the nation, why pretend that it wasn't?

And don't be ridiculous! Can there be any doubt that there are not people that haven't been preached at and evangelized anywhere in this country? Everyone and their children have heard those prayers. No one is afraid of the conversion of their kids.

But then why should they have to worry about this? It is not the school's job to convert Jews, Muslims and all those other faiths' adherents to Christianity. When did that become part of their job?

Why should you have to take down your crosses and commandments? You've answered your own question. Because they are YOURS. Not a Muslim's, not a Jew's, not a Pagan's, not a Hindu's. The public property belongs to them as well. Remember the religion may be yours, but the NATION belongs to ALL of us.

Answer 3

If the country was a theocracy, then yes, I would expect to see symbols of the state's religion on government property, including hearing school children recite prayers led by the teachers and whatnot.
However, if country is not a theocracy, like United States, then religion has no place being promoted by the government.
No one is saying you cannot display your Ten Commandments on your church's property. No one is saying you cannot display religious symbols on your own private property. No one saying you cannot express your religious beliefs in a public forum, including if your child wants to pray in his or her school. You can. That's the beauty of a country with freedom of speech. Anyone who would try to stop you is in the wrong.
HOWEVER you cannot have government employees such as teachers or administrators in a public school leading prayer for the children. You cannot display your Ten Commandments on the steps of a courthouse. Why? Because as I said above, this country is NOT a theocracy.
It doesn't matter if every single person in this country is a Christian. It's not a "majority wins" when it comes to religion in a country that is not a theocracy.

Answer 4

If I went to a Muslim country, yes I would expect that - but I would not admire it.
Anyway -
there is a difference between 'expressing one's faith wherever one happens to be' and incorporating symbols of your faith into government buildings and public school curricula. If someone wants to pray in a courthouse or a public school, fine; and I'll defend their right to do so (as long as they aren't disrupting a lecture or a hearing or something!). In fact, I have been known to pray in a courthouse myself, and nobody arrested me.
However, if you want symbols of religion included in the decor - one religion, to the exclusion of others - that's a problem; and if you can't see why, you really don't understand the principles on which this country was founded.
As for the argument "they have been there for centuries" - when the US began, owning slaves was legal and women didn't have the vote. Still, we managed to eventually recognize that these things went against our ideals; the same goes for the practice of having a 'de-facto' state religion.

(You know, the real problem is that Christians are taught 'if you aren't with us, you're against us' - and therefore, they assume any attempt to protect the freedoms of non-Christians is a disguised attack on Christianity. It's absurd and not even really worth discussing. Complain when somebody *actually* violates your rights. )

Answer 5

We are an experiment in freedom. In order for true freedom, (if such a thing exists), we need to allow all their freedom without interference from the government. Religious symbols in public is not the issue, symbols in government offices and buildings, public schools and such is the issue. Remember, we are unique. We took progressive ideas and ran with them. That's the rub, but it's not so bad.

Answer 6

i don't find it strange that you want to express your faith where ever you might be. i, and the other non christians, would just like the same right. it is something we are also guaranteed by the constitution.
i woul like for it to be acceptable for a muslim to say a prayer before they board a plane.
i would like it to be acceptable for a library to carry the harry potter books (none of which i have read) without having to take into consideration what the far right christians think.
my only problem with prayer in schools is that it is a form of institutionalized religion, i have no problem with a free moment of silence. my problem is that i believe that it would be an offense to your god for someone to pray a false prayer. do you really want generation after generation of people that only believe because they are told to or because it is the only option? do you really want generation after generation of believers that are only superficial or would you rather have believers that feel it in their hearts? which do you think your god wants more?

Answer 7

America is predominantly churchgoers, and this is not the same thing as being predominantly christian.

If my children were satanist, would you have a problem with their free expression denouncing christianity? Are you proposing an undemocratic majority rule without regard to other viewpoints?

Answer 8

Well said! It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection. If people want a creche, it 's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. We don't like getting pushed around for being Christians, and I don't think Atheists like getting pushed around for being Atheists. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Answer 9

What are you griping about????


This is NOT a theocracy, like Hindu and Muslim countries.


There are crosses all over the place. Churches, on cars, I even saw a "fish" on a school bus.


I am so sick of some Christians whining about stupid stuff like this. Don't you have better things to worry about?


Christmas is coming, go whine about "Happy Holidays" again.....as if Jesus wants his name attached to a commercial bonanza!


This IS NOT a Christian country!!! It is a non-religion based democracy. Separation of church and state, dear.


You give "good" Christians a bad name and are embarrassing us. And all the people like you....the loud, vocal and SMALL minority are making the rest of us look bad. Please be quiet!


If you want a Jesus based country, go start one.....our country is just fine, thanks!

Answer 10

Its this thing called seperation of church and state. This country was founded on christian values but wanted the government to be seperate from the religion.

Not like it was before the revelutionary war. It was for freedom of all religions. And that freedom had to be seperate from the Government. Nobody is saying you cant have your cross or your cant pray. It just cant be state sponsered.

Answer 11

Satan has used mans intellect against him. This country was founded by GOD fearing people. But now the atheist cry separation of church and state but that's not whats even written in the constitution. And the most of all the christian in the states are fake. We are living in the last days.