Many American Christians trumpet the idea that American was intended to be a Christian nation founded on Christian values. However, those people might want to read the Treaty with Tripoli which was drafted and ratified under presidents Washington and Adams.
Article XI of the treaty reads "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 tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
Taken with the lack of mention of God or Christianity in the Constitution, could it be that our country was not founded on Christianity?
More information coming in the additional details.
2007-11-23 18:24:58 · 9 answers · asked by Justin H 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The U.S. Constitution only has one mention of religion and that comes in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights which starts "Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion...". Before freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to assembly and petition, the Constitution says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.
Plus, there is ample evidence that many of the framers of the constitution - including the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine - were either atheist or agnostic.
Text of the Treaty of Tripoli: http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html
Related article: http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/buckner_tripoli.html
2007-11-23 18:30:50 · update #1
whitehorse456: I'm not concerned with the interpretations and opinions of later courts and politicians. I'm concerned with the framers of the Constitution. Read the related article where you see John Adams' statements in making the treaty public. I think it is very clear what his intent was.
2007-11-23 18:33:54 · update #2
nightrider: I agree with your general point. However, in recent years it has become very apparent that the Christian majority has no regard for the religious freedom of non-Christians. In fact, Bush 41 even said that atheists should not be considered citizens. How is an atheist supposed to stomach a comment like that from a former President.
2007-11-23 18:44:34 · update #3
...as most of the signers of the constitution were deists or freemasons.
Hell, the city of Washington D.C. was designed by freemasons. The great seal of the United States that is displayed on the back of the one dollar bill has it's origin from freemasons.
2007-11-23 18:31:08 · answer #1 · answered by timbers 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This country was not founded on Christianity and is not a Christian nation.
The principles in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution are so FAR from the bible or any other holy book. Many of the founding fathers were not Christian, of those who were Christian they had a disdain for organized religion.
2007-11-24 02:32:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know, I am SOOOOO glad I live in England where we have a much more multicultural society. Sure there are racist bigots in the minority but on the whole we treat other races and religions with far more respect and understanding than Americans do. But then we have places like Stonehenge to remind us all that there wasn't always Christianity around.
2007-11-24 05:08:38 · answer #3 · answered by freyatru 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Supreme Court which has greater authority than any international treaty, said (as I recently posted), "Runkel v. Winemiller (1799), “Religion is of general and public concern, and on its support depend, in great measure, the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing…”
The evidence for us being a Christian nation is overwhelming (Supreme Court decisions, references to God and Christianity in our state constitutions, quotes from our founders, etc). You would have to use very selective research to make a case stating otherwise. In fact, the Treaty of Tripoli is almost the only thing I ever hear from the other side, whereas there are literally thousands of evidences in favor of us being a Christian nation.
*Edit: If you are really interested in what our founders believed, why not start with the words of George Washington, the "father of our nation" as I mention in the link below....and beyond him, there is a wealth of supporting quotes from other founders as well...
2007-11-24 02:29:45 · answer #4 · answered by whitehorse456 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
It was founded BY Christians who wanted to insure the new government would never be guilty of exerting undue influence on anyone regarding religion.
Freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion it means freedom to choose or reject.
And it doesn't mean someone has the right to insist no one else has religion. Freedom to choose protects the rights of all. Atheists might not like it if Christians bow their heads and pray at the table next to them. The Christians don't have the right to force the Atheist to pray and the Atheist does not have the right to force the Christians to stop praying.
Freedom to choose..........
2007-11-24 02:38:00 · answer #5 · answered by nightrider 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most are aware of it dear, but just as they have a "cafeteria approach" to religion, picking up what they like and ignoring the rest, they do the same thing with history and treaties...
2007-11-24 03:34:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Didn't I just ask this question? Yes, in a bit of a different way, but still....lolz
2007-11-24 02:31:04 · answer #7 · answered by mental1018 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Much better! Kudos!
2007-11-24 02:28:19 · answer #8 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
if this isn't a religion-neutral country then it should be
2007-11-24 02:32:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋