So, the USA was founded on the Christian values of the founding fathers, eh?

Question

In that case, the founding fathers used their Christian values to establish a country in which;

One human being could own another human being

Where only white, male, property owners could vote or hold office.

Where women had little if any rights.

If the "Christian values" of the founding fathers were truly American values, it's unlikely we would have had a Civil War, a Women's Suffrage movement, or a Civil Rights movement.

The founding fathers established a country that suppressed the masses. Do we really want to see a return of these "Christian values?"

I prefer to read the Constitution, not the Bible. The Bible offers no personal rights. The Bible is not the law of the land and was never intended to the law of the land.
The Bible serves your spirit, not your mortal needs.

Answer 1

Bob, I personally prefer YOUR values.
To those who think that basing the law of our land on "Christian values" is a GOOD thing---remember that nearly every single religion has the same basic tenets. (I can't think of any legitimate religion that condones murder or stealing for example.)
What really p!sses me off is those people who believe that their "Judeo-Christian" values are somehow superior to my own. I'm Pagan. I make it a point to be the best person I can be because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm fearful of an imaginary deity flinging a lightening bolt at me.

Answer 2

First of all...Believers...stop with the venom. The Word of God says we should... "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and
respect." (1 Peter 3:15)

Bob, I think the "ideal times" that a lot of Conservatives point to, whether it's the birth of our country or the 1950's, were primarily based on outer appearances. The important thing in those times was to have the appearance of being Godly and appearing "upright and religious." It always seems to me when I read the Constitution and things that the Founding Fathers weren't sure whether or not there was a God, but
they wanted to have their bases covered just in case. And there were the issues that you mentioned, slavery and such, that many had to pay a price for because individuals put up with such things.

Conservatives point to the 1950's as an ideal time, but the 1950's were a time of apperances as well. A man could have the appearance of having a job, a wife, 2 kids, a car, the whole ball of wax, with the wife staying at home and cooking and doing all those things, but in reality, he was sneaking around with a mistress. But that didn't matter--what mattered was appearances.

Hmmm...some conservatives might fit that bill today. But I think that 2 faced manner of the 1950's led to the rebellion of the 1960's.

Jesus came to earth at a time when the Pharisees were primarily concerned about appearances, about how they "looked" to the people around them, that they appeared to be Godly since they followed the Old Testament
laws to such an extreme, and in fact added their own regulations to the OT laws.

Answer 3

No, it wasn't really. The Treaty of Tripoli says the government wasn't, and the first two presidents agreed with it. Many of the most influential of the Founding Fathers were Deists whose belief is that God created the universe in such manner that it can operate by itself and takes no further part in it. Some, notably Thomas Jefferson, went from Deism to atheism, as his writings prove. There are many proofs that the government wasn't founded on Christianity. I'm a Christian, and I know the Bible says to, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's...", so it's proper to acknowledge that the country wasn't founded on Christian values. Lies accomplish nothing for anyone. They only discredit the liars.

Answer 4

The founding fathers actually had it right. Every man is created equal and has three unalienable rights; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Now, to your point, the "men" who have committed atrocities in the name of these people who were trying to escape dictatorship in the monarchy in England, have shamed the entire institution that the founders were trying to create.

True Christian values shouldn't have to be Christian but values of welfare for you fellow man. The founders believed that without a divine persecution at risk, men would do whatever they wanted. And they did it anyway; even the KKK uses the bible as their motivating tomb.

Personally, I am agnostic, but raised Episcopalian. I believe that my value system is rooted in the welfare of my well-being and that of others. Don't get me wrong, my country has trained me to really put a hurt on you if you try to invade my space and I most certainly will. If you think that you can violate me where I live, than you are worthy of my wrath.

Being a Black man, I could empathize with what you wrote, but I believe in that there is good in man. That, I believe despite being an agnostic to organized religion.

Hope that makes sense.

Answer 5

To say the USA was founded on the Chirstian values of the founding fathers would be an incorrect statement. By the same token to say Christian values had no influence on how the country was founded would be just as incorrect.

*LOL* And you are one of those who wants complete seperation between church and state.

And since you want to say it's all the fault of 'Christian Values' Would you mind telling me where Christ said the following?

One human being could own another human being

Only white, male, property owners could vote or hold office.

Women had little if any rights.

Christ never said any of those things. And if you bothered to do the research, it was Christians that were the main force behind correcting those errors in the Constitution.

Christ said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I don't recall he even said anything about government getting involved in how we were to treat others.

Christ did say, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's".

I'll take my answer in an E-mail.

Answer 6

Considering the state of the world in the 1770's, what our founders created was very progressive. I know it's fashionable among the leftists and the historically ignorant to judge our fore fathers by 21st century standards, it's just so ignorant when it's done. Of course because of our Christian foundation things have changed. Now if you want to own someone you would have to go to Africa to buy them. If you wanted to insure that your wife or daughter wouldn't have any political or civil rights a trip to the Arab world would be in order, and if you absolutely cannot have a situation where property owning white males have the vote, visit N Korea. It will probably come as a shock to you that the central figure of the American civil rights movement M L King was himself a Christian, that why they always put the word Reverend in front of his name. In fact most of the early abolitionists were devout Christians as well, because of their stand on slavery a civil war was fought. So despite your ignorant bigoted view of Christianity, one could argue that all the changes in the country that expanded the rights of women and minorities, that ended slavery, that guarantee we all are treated equally under the law came about because of and not in spite of Christianity. Merry Christmas!

Answer 7

read the bible... alot of those "values" came from there. Times have changed... get with the program. People really need to stop taking things so literally. The founding fathers also didnt mean the right to bear arms in that anyone can have a gun just because they feel like it. They meant that you should be able to defend yoursefl against the British...and in times of conflict...they did not forsee the way things would be 200 years later. Just as the values of 200 years ago differ from what we have today. doesnt make them worng - just evolved and different. Not many would consider owning slaves today - but back then - thats how it was. And since the bible condoned it, well thats how it was. I dont think anyone advocates returning to how things were 200 years ago.

Answer 8

I dont think you have a good arguement here. yes our country was founded on christian values. Does that mean that everyone followed them? of coarse not. Thats why there are things such as abortion and homo's and all of these things that wouldnt of been accepted then and now its allowed with open arms. Whats up with that?

Our founding fathers brought together a strong country. Why else do you think we're the best one? Apperently there was something good about it. Yes we were founded on christian values. But many didnt follow them.

Answer 9

This country was founded on Christian Values and God.
Times do change, but the basics is yes. This was formed with Christianity.

Answer 10

Of course, consider the following:

Slavery legal.
Women were property.
Mass extermination of native Americans.
Torture was a common practice.

sounds christian to me.