Why is it often claimed that America was founded as a Christian country when most of the founders were Deists?

Question

Deism is a belief that God created the universe and its laws (including the natural law) and simply has left it be and does not actively intervene in the world. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, was a Deist, as were most educated people of that time period.

We can see the Deist influence of the founders when they referred to the "Creator" instead of "God" and when they referred to inalienable rights such as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (the pursuit of happiness meant property, but Jefferson preferred that phrase, which has led to misinterpretations; this was the classical liberal understanding of natural law).

Why is it that people spread myths about the religious beliefs of the founders for what appear to be politically motivated reasons?

Answer 1

Because most of this nation is stupid enough to believe everything... and they lack the balls to question anything...

Answer 2

Some of the founders were Deists other were not. The fact remains that almost all of the people in the US at the time of it's birth were Christians, that our laws were derived from Christian doctrine, that are values were created by Christian teachings. That's why people say the US was founded as a Christian nation. History is what it is, why is this such a hard thing for people to grasp.

Answer 3

Either way, who cares whether or not the country was founded on Christianity. There is no place in our government for people who believe in things that can't be proven. Religion is nothing more than a hobby. It should left as just that. If people don't want to work on Sundays then that's their choice. If someone doesn't want to have an abortion then that is their choice.

Don't you religious wackos see what happens when you intertwine religion and govt??? Does the Middle East ring a bell to you?

Why the hell do you bible thumpers ignore all of the 21st century technology in favor of ancient fairy tales? The country should be run on what we know for certain, not on word of mouth stories that have been distorted over the past 2000 years.

BTW, the founding fathers were NOT religious. Anyone disagreeing is just another wishful thinker.

Answer 4

You state truth. But try and tell this to American people. There is a fairly new book entitled "The Religions of American Presidents" by Franklin Steiner. It dispells the myth and fiction written in many biographical works about our founding fathers. And I might add that some of these works are written by extremely professional persons with considerable titles and clout. For instance, how many Americans do you suppose know that Washington did not cut down a cherry tree, nor say that he could not tell a lie. Totally false.
Neither are you going to find Americans who know that Deism stood to hasten the retirement of historic theology from it's empire over the intellect of American leaders, and to clear the atmosphere for secular interests. ("The Rise of American Civilization"/Chas. & Mary Beard.
Most biographies portray Washington as a very devout, Church going man. Not so. If you read the Washington Diaries, "Where and How I Spent My Time", he directly disputes this. In 1787, he went to church 3 times, once to a Catholic Church, once to an Episcopal Church, etc. In 1788, he only attended church once.
Jefferson was definately a freethinker and not so devout. And yes, most of our founding fathers were Deists such as John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Ben Franklin, etc. There were Presidents whose religious views or lack there of that Americans aren't aware of such as, James Madison, James Monroe, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Chester A. Arthur.
I refer to what's happened in this country as "the evolution of religion". Books and biographies have appeared and instead of giving fact are merely religious propagandistic documents.
This country was founded on freedom, period.

Answer 5

"Most people" think the Founders were Christians because "most people" profess a belief in Christianity. Ergo they project their own world view onto everything and everyone who lacks horns, tails and scales.

But that's not what I find fascinating about the question.

What's amazing is that -- so far at least -- only one Christian has weighed in on this issue. Given how verbal those nice young men and women are about everything else that they think pertains to Christianity, it's a little surprising that they are not spouting their ignorant narrow-mindedness on this discussion.

The question "why" they do it goes back to Little Ronnie Reagan and the Christian Coalition. And W. Especially W. The leaders -- people like Pat Robertson and Ralph Reed -- do this because it advances their political agenda, which is the establishment of a religious dictatorship with themselves as the dictators. In Jesus' name, though, so you should not worry about a thing.

The sheeple will follow a slick preacher to the gates of hell itself. It's all about the kingdom and the power and none of the glory. Which is to say that when we look at the Religious Right, we gaze upon the Minions of Hell on Earth.




*****Maybe this will get them started. One never knows, do one?*****

Answer 6

I think you explained it pretty well. The Founding Fathers viewed God as someone who created the universe and the world and then left it alone.

I think the laws of the land were written with the Bible as a basis for them, but their view of the Bible was a lot different than we as Christians view it now. (I am a Christian).

I am glad that we enjoy the religious freedoms that we do in this country, but I am also glad that the nation was not founded with Christianity as a centerpiece, meaning requirements written in that every citizen must attend church each Sunday or something like that.

As a Christian, I believe God the Father wants us to seek Him out and have a relationship with Him, but when you're legally forced to go to church and do those types of things rather than choosing to do so, that natural relationship doesn't develop. God opens Himself up to us...He doesn't force Himself upon us. It would be good if many of His followers could understand that idea.

Answer 7

Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, two of our most prominent Founding Fathers, were Deists. Washington and Jefferson were not particularly religious but tended more toward Deism than Christianity.

Thomas Paine, whose writings were a powerful catalyst for the American Revolution, vehemently attacked Christianity in one of his polemical works and refused to embrace Christianity, even on his death-bed.

God is not mentioned in our Constitution. The Declaration of Independence simply mentions "Nature's God" and a "Creator", neither of which specifically imply a Christian god.

Per the Treaty of Tripoli, endorsed by President John Adams and ratified unanimously by the US Senate in 1797: "As the Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..."

If Christians lay claim to the United States as their nation, that means they bear the sole responsibility for the evils of slavery, the virtual annihilation of the Native Americans, and the many acts of state terror perpetrated by the US military and CIA over the years.

In 1864, the equivalent of today's Religious Right cowed Congress into passing legislation mandating that the US begin stamping "In God We Trust" on several of our coins. Besides caving to the powerful influence of Christian fundamentalists, our federal government also recognized the psychological boost the power of Christian symbolism would give them after the blow to their authority rendered by the Civil War.

McCarthy-inspired anti-Communist hysteria motivated Eisenhower to sign Public Law 140 in 1956. Going forward, all US coins and paper money bore the propagandistic slogan "In God We Trust" to reassure Americans that we were better than the godless Communists. The same year, the words "under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance. It took 180 years for this Christian nation to fully embrace its identity. Or perhaps it simply took our plutocratic rulers that long to recognize the power of spiritual coercion….

Answer 8

Most of the founders were NOT Deists. Walk around the cemeteries where they are buried and you'll find them mostly Episcopal Churches. Bu more important than that, read their writings (especially diaries) and they'd be classed as evangelicals by today's standards.

Thomas Jefferson was probably the least Christian of them all, but the only one people like you know much about because, you buy the junk the public schools teach and never research for yourself.

Did you know that most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence actually held Master of Divinity degrees because they were also clergy.

Answer 9

George Washington was also a Deist, saying he couldnt reconcile why an almighty Being capable of the Creation of Everything would need the mindless adulation of an uneducated, unwashed mob, and punish those who refused to stroke His ego in such a manner.

Gotta respect a leader like that.

Answer 10

Well, when the founders referred to the 'Creator', they were referring to God because God IS the Creator!
Secondly, our founding fathers wrote the Constitution, Bill of Rights and D.O.I after God's law - the bible. Where do you think our freedom of speech, religion, freedom to pray to and worship God came from? How about the freedoms and equalities we have for all races? That comes from the bible, too. Our laws are based on the Ten Commandments. Why do you think it's illegal to steal or commit murder?? Why do you think many businesses are closed on Sundays? To honor the Lord's Day; the Sabbath. Our freedoms in this country were given to us by God and many fought to keep our country free - remember that! Freedom and rights aren't free; they come at a price!

Below is a link to a very interesting bit of information regarding church and state separation - and it may surprise you! It's what's going on in our country today: leftists turning our country into a godless nation, which is disgraceful. Hope you take the time to read it. It's very informative!

Answer 11

You answered your own question. People will lie to get power. A lie is more convincing when it can be backed up with superficial evidence that people don't need to look into in order to have a surface understanding.