Was the US set up as a Christian nation or not?

Question

I was under the impression, that the US was a secular society, where religion had no influence in the workings of the country (in politics for example), and no religion was favoured over another (free-religion).

This is supported by the 1st ammendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So why is the US now a Christian nation?
Where no [successful] politician admits that they are anything other than a Christian?
Where strong religious lobbies have influence and sway over politics and education in schools?

I'm just interested in where/why this change over happened. Can anyone help me?

Answer 1

The only two mentions of religion in the Constitution are both explicitly about preventing the government from establishing official religion.

There is no mention of "God" in the Constitution.
There is no mention of "Jesus" in the Constitution.
There is no mention of "Christ" in the Constitution.

This is most definitely not a "Christian nation". That's crystal clear, and those who assert that it is are simply traitorous liars.

Answer 2

The 1st Amendment stands against an establishment of religion and at the same time insures the free expression of any belief.

This freedom is still exercised today by Americans for the most part. So, if US is a Christian nation now or in the past, it is not because it's forced upon its people. People are freely choosing to be Christians.

For politicians, claiming to be a Christian helps to establish with their constituents that s/he shares their values. I guess that's a good strategy considering something like 80% of Americans claim to be Christians.

Answer 3

Absolutely not! Read the personal papers of the Founding Fathers and you will see that none of them believed the christian cult garbage and also thought that the churches were nothing but a corrupt system for fleecing the fools. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were very clear in their belief that to believe old tales of a Rabbi rising from the dead was the true sign of how ignorant the human species could be and why there must be an electoral system to override the mass of idiots who could be sold any tale that the religious nuts would make up. The "Rapture" is a perfect example of what they meant. It was made up by a pastor in england in the early 1800's and used to fleece millions of their property and money and has survived til this very day. Look at the number of sheeple who believe they are going to fly away into a cloud. Pwaise Jeebus and pass the pork chops!

Answer 4

You must remember that this country was settled first by people who were escaping religious persecution in Europe...the pilgrims, the Quakers, the Amish(Anabaptists) etc. When we severed our control from British rule, the forefathers who believed in God or the Supreme being were careful so that there would be religous tolerance here so that the burnings and prosecuting of people for their religous beliefs would not occur here.

The predominance of the people that settled here inititially and since have been Christian...and the Christians have developed into a powerful political force though are under attack now by people who fear the return of persecution.

The equation of Christianity with morality and goodness is the reason polititians tout their christianity...they think that it will cover their true nature...and of course they want to retain that voting block of tradtionally easily led Christian voters.

There is little wrong with children being taught some societal rules from religion or some morality rules...but when religion interferes with the teaching of science or is enforced on people, then it becomes a very real problem...and can lead to 'believe the way I believe or I will kill or persecute you'. This type of coercion has happened throughout history when religions take over governments.

Of course, the above is JMO but is based on a lifetime study of religions and history.

Answer 5

No, it wasn't.

Also in the Constitution, it says that no religious test shall be required for public service. In the Treaty of Tripoli, it was explicitly stated that the US is in no way to be considered a Christian nation. And, of course, there was the letter by Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists clarifying the intent of the 1st Amendment where he describes the wall of separation between church and state.

The "In God We Trust" as the national motto and "Under God" in the Pledge were introduced during the early 50's during the McCarthy nonsense. People wrongly equated atheism and communism, so it was easy to pass these unconstitutional laws which basically make atheists second-class citizens. Injecting "Under God" between "One Nation" and "Indivisible" is very divisive. It really goes against the idea that every person in this country, regardless of religious belief, is an equal citizen of this country. I much prefer "E Pluribus Unum" which really does a better job of upholding this principle.

And to Steve B: The Delawares had already converted to Christianity. Washington was just repeating what they asked and his comment should not be taken as his own. In any case, it should not be taken as an endorsement for a Christian theocracy. BTW, the Delawares, after trusting the "Good Christians" and converting, were wiped out in a sneak attack shortly afterwards. Perhaps you should study the history behind the mindless quotes you spew.

Answer 6

The country was set upon Christian beliefs. What the fore-fathers were careful to separate was a particular belief structure (Catholic, Protestant, Etc.) being set as an Official or endorsed religion. To support this statement I ask you to read the Bill of Rights (all based on rights granted by God), commencement of every Gov't meeting with prayer (until the 1970's) and the personal beliefs of the fore- fathers themselves. I saw someone had mentioned Ben Franklin in a response. Mr. F was careful to not endorse his Christianity publicly but if you read his diary (my copy of his diary comes from a US History book given to my Great Grandfather in 1865, no 18 is not a typo) he tells often of his prayers during his many travels across the Atlantic. Geo being a farmer (his family grew hemp for textile usage and Geo was an avid hemp smoker) as well as a General was very Christian oriented and from him came the practice of opening meeting prayers. Hope this cleared up the "separation" of church and state that the multi-Christian (sects?) of this nations fore-fathers had endorsed.

Answer 7

Sure! We can share opinions on this subject. It would appear that in the beginning, christians immigrants, like columbus et al came to this country looking for a new route to china. i guess they didn't get there. then the pilgrams showed up, fell into the none christian ways of the native americans. then the rest of europe showed up bringing all that baggage with them! so now you have a mess of people looking to live in harmony and they have no control over who shows up and how they'll act! so when the founding fathers took a good look around and said, gee whiz, how is this gonna work, they decided that the constitution should allow for some leeway in how people practice their religion. and that can of worms has evolved into the religious right wing tell people they will die and go to hell if they don't vote republican and have some idiot run the white house that doesn't believe his most distant relative was a monkey somewhere in africa. oh well, lest we digress, it would appear that there should not be any influence from the right to control government! they are free to vote for whomever they wish, however, they are BY LAW, not allowed to openly influence MY WAY OF LIFE, because it's a violation of my civil rights! so if you show up on my doorstep preaching, expect a swift kick in the chops!!!! Merry Christmas, Bah Humbug! Happy Hanukkah or whatever brings you happiness in this festive season!

Answer 8

The US was established with a secular government. The Constitution is a humanist document, not a Christian one.

The US was predominantly Christian culturally then, as it is now. Truth be told, the cultural hold Christianity has on America now is much weaker than it was in times past. There are actually a few non-Christians in the Congress these days.

Answer 9

Originally people came to USA to escape religious persecution.

They were Protestant, Christian, not following the Anglican church or church of England. The head of this Anglican church was the King or Queen of England, it had separated from Catholic church, and decline the pope's authority over the church and Installed the King/Queen (head of the country/ state) as head of the church. To day even UK allows the religious freedom.

The colonies (13 of them) became 13 Original states, they Drafted the constitution, and made sure that general religious freedom was included in the constitution so no one will surfer what they had been through and people wil be free to practise any faith. What they knew then was only various faction of Christianity only, but once written it was interpreted correctly to the word and USA to day is a secular society.

There are quite a few supreme court decision to support this.

Answer 10

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were not all Christians... so why would they intend to make it a Christian nation?

Also, the author of the Constitution was not a Christian either.