Position:Home>History> Was the USA founded on Christain values? Was it a Christian nation? Is it now?
Question: Was the USA founded on Christain values!? Was it a Christian nation!? Is it now!?
There was some debate earier today about the USA being a "christain" nation with many claiming it was and may claiming it wasn't!. I have heard many people say that that the founding fathers were christian!.
What is your reaction to these quotes!?
:Art!. 11!. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion!.!.!.
- The Treaty of Tripoli, 1796
""In no instance have !. !. !. the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people!."
"Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise!."
- James Madison [April 1, 1774]
"I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature!."
"Religions are all alike - founded upon fables and mythologies!."
- Thomas Jefferson
(copied and pasted from another yahoo answer)
http://au!.answers!.yahoo!.com/question/ind!.!.!. thanks Joe N
Www@QuestionHome@Com
Sound like an opening diatribe for the Jesus Seminar!.
Purpose of the migration of folks to America/New World, Religious freedom!. The purpose of Jefferson's 'remarks' in a letter to a minister about the 'separation of church and state', (this being a remark, not an item of law) was to assure the minister that there would be no STATE Sponsored or Approved Religion, having precedence over another!. This statement that Jefferson wrote in this PRIVATE letter, not an amendment to the Constitution, was to assure this minister that he would always have the freedom to worship God without any pressure from the government!. However due to the misinterpretation by our judicial system the remarks of this letter NOW have force of law!. The letter is posted below!.
To mess!. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S!. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association
in the state of Connecticut!.
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of
the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction!. my duties dictate a faithful & zealous pursuit of
the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of
them becomes more and more pleasing!.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none
other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I
contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature
should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a
wall of separation between Church & State!. adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of
the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to
man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties!.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender
you for yourselves and your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem!.
Th!. Jefferson
Jan!. 1!. 1802!.
As for the 'Christian Nation' today!.!.!.Not so much!. A large portion of America 'claim' to be Christian, but it is all too obvious that a large portion of even Church Members aren't even "Christian"!.
But Paul had noted that this would be the case in the end of the church era!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
People came to the United States to escape religious persecution!. The founding fathers sought to make sure that all people would be treated equally under the constitution!. Religious freedom is our right!. The country is not Christian though many hold that belief!.
I am a Christian and whole heartedly support anyone's right to believe or not believe!.
Separation of chruch and state is a concept that ensures no one's religious rights are violated!. Let's keep it that way!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
First of all, you have to understand that we live in different times now!. When you talk about the time of the writing of the constitution we're talkin about an era when they didn't even know where flu came from, or there where no electricity, or even house plumbing, So you have to consider the fact that there was very little info about just 'bout everything!. So, tell me, what do you think, Is there a God out there,and based on your knowlege of life, Do you believe what they tell you!. Think 'bout thatWww@QuestionHome@Com
the quotes don't make me react but I know we have a free countryWww@QuestionHome@Com
Of the original colonists to the Americas, some came to escape religous persecution!. However, most of them were some denomination of Christianity!. The founding fathers wanted a separation of church and state so that one denomination of Christianity could not rule over others!. However, it would always be assumed that our leaders would be Christain!. Our founding father could have never imagined a leader who was not Christian!. How we define a separation between church and state is far different from how the founding fathers defined it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com