Why would a nation founded on christianity(according to fundies) want seperation of church and state?

Question

Perhaps they(the founding fathers, despite their religion) had a better idea of how government should operate then most of our current leaders who try to legislate religion.

Jett: I understand this, but I was trying to avoid an irrelevant argument.

Pastor Art: I don't dispute that many were christian, as you said yourself, they weren't ALL christian.


My point was that there is no state religion because imposing religious laws infringes on the rights of people that don't share that belief. The founding fathers understood this, which is why it was included in the bill of rights. It seems today(and in the past) that our leaders and their constituents do not understand this, or disregard it, while making the claim that this is a christian nation, when in reality it is not. Many (most) of the original colonists may have been christian, but this does not mean christian law rules the land. The laws are founded on basic human rights, rights not granted in the bible.

Answer 1

It was to prevent laws regarding religion. Such as a law that would say "No prayer in school." It got twisted up to mean they did not want religion involved in Gov.

Answer 2

The original colonists were fleeing Europe, where at that time, the religions and governments were justified by one another. The king was above the common people and closer to God. You were an enemy if you practiced a religion other Church of England in England or Catholicism on the mainland.

I grew up in Connecticut and there are still lots of reminders of the very strict Puritans there. Massachusetts in particular, would drive out those who did not follow their religious leaders. They killed people for heresies there in the early decades.

This country was founded to allow individuals and groups to be able to follow their own path to God. We demanded to be free of the dictates of the Kings and Popes. No one tries to legislate religion now in the USA. Why don't you try to carry a religious text other than the Koran to Saudi Arabia. Then you'll see what a religious government is, with the two bound
together totally.

What has happened in America is those who chose not to believe try to take away the rights of the rest of us to our freedom to practice religion and to infringe on our rights to prayer and worship. That is wrong. I say that as someone whose ancestors arrived here in Rhode Island Colony in 1674. Why don't youenlight yourself by reading some of Roger Miller's writings. He founded that colony. It would give a greater perspective on our history in many ways.

There was a lot of concern when Maryland formed b/c it was Catholic. There was a lot of resentment toward Catholics even when JFK ran for president. We are not one homogenous whole, never have been and won't be in the future.

Oh, the short answer is that the original colonies were very suspicious of federal government and wanted to make absolutely sure that we never had a national religion, meaning Catholic or Anglican or Presbyterian, but is it was a given that we are Christian.

Answer 3

I keep hearing the unfounded claim that our Nations founding fathers were mainly Deists. This is not true.

Their were four non Christians, including 3 Deists, included in our Founding Fathers.

All the rest were Christians.

The treaty with Tripoli was the first war the USA had with radical Muslims. That treaty claimed the USA was not a Christian nation in an effort to stop the war with radical Muslims.

All other documents created by our Founding Fathers, except for four of them: Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and one other, I can't recall who the forth one is.

Many member of the group which signed the Declaration of Independence were Christian Pastors. As were many who signed the Constitution.

One problem is that people have, since the time of the Civil War, been re-writing our history books to make false claims about our past and our founding fathers.

For details see the Wall Builders web site.

Pastor Art

Answer 4

Well, that's your evidence that it was NOT founded on Christianity, although it might be possible to argue that it was founded on the awareness that a majority of the citizens were Christian. Thing is, they were all different denominations, so it was clear to the founding fathers that there needed to be legal protection for all. That is, a wall of separation between church and state. They may not have been able to predict that we would have the incredible variety of beliefs we currently do have, but they set up the First Amendment to permit such variety, which is all to the good for ALL of us.

Remember, that wall protects the church at least as much as it does the state.

Answer 5

Religion exists to bring spiritual well being to human beings. Used in its intended way, religion is like medicine.

Politics is about power and control over lands and especially wealth and resources. Therefore, politics will always ensure, somewhere in the world, there will be nations fighting other nations.

If church and state become one then religion becomes threatened. Like in the Bible, when every time Israel was conquered, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.

Genuine religious people should live peaceably in the world. They should understand the spiritual as spiritual and the worldly as worldly. For the fundies, as Jesus said: "Give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar" for"My kingdom is not of this world".

Answer 6

Despite their religion? 11 of the 13 founding fathers were not Christians, most were deists, but you are right, they were all for a strong separation of church and state.

"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common" law.

-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

People easily forget that one of the main reasons of the revolution, thus this country being formed, was too much religious influence in government :O

Answer 7

A nation founded on Christianity WOULDN'T want Separation of Church and State. A nation founded on Christianity would want just the opposite of that.

This illustrates the fact that the founding fathers were NOT Christians, and from some of their quotes actually DESPISED Christianity and even Christians. They were Deists, not Christians.

This was a REALLY good point, one I've not seen anyone else bring up in the particular way you did, and I hope that all Christians who think this nation was founded by Christians will read it. A star for you.

Answer 8

The founding fathers of the USA were from England, or their parents were. This may shock you, but the head of the Anglican church was the King of England~ because King Henry VIII made it just so he could marry another woman and try to have a son.

The term separation of church and state means that we will NOT have a church of America or some such nonsense. That's it. That's why.

Answer 9

Some of these answer reconfirm in my mind the critical situation of our society. We seem to be getting more and more religious fanatics and a lower quality of general education. People are less informed and yet have more vigor to change the laws.

It scares me. I believe I know understand why the founding fathers feared the uninformed masses voting.

edit: I don't think some people get that you are pointing out that America wasn't founded on Christianity. That's to be expected I suppose.

Answer 10

I see no leaders trying to legislate religion. I only see that religion and God are being thrown out of everywhere that is public. This is in direct contrast with what Thomas Jefferson wrote about in his letters (where the idea of separation of church and state came from). Jefferson said that the government shall not set up a (pay attention here) STATE RUN RELIGION. And despite what most people believe, this is not in the constitution, anywhere. The reason the founding fathers felt this way (my guess only) is that they saw what a state run religion did to everyone in England. Every one of the founding fathers was spiritual and loved God.

Answer 11

I am a Christian but I do not want the schools to teach my child about God That is my job and the job of the church. School is for academics math reading science Leave the spiritual teaching to the parents