America 101 - Are We a Christian Nation?
To me, this is about as self evident as intentions get, but let's review for those of you unfamiliar with the founding document of our nation. Amendment One of the Constitution of the United States of America reads, "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."
This a fairly clear statement that the framers wanted no state religion in this county. At the same time, they allowed for all to believe and worship as they chose. The key concept is that government is not to be involved in religion either as a promoter or an oppressor. This is indeed freedom of and freedom from religion.
I have also heard it said that the overwhelming majority of the founding fathers of this nation were evangelical Christians. Let's see what the fathers themselves have to say about religion and its role in government...
"I have examined all the known superstitions of the World, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded on fables and mythology."
Thomas Jefferson
"I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church."
Thomas Paine
"The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity."
John Adams
"Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together."
James Madison
"When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one."
Benjamin Franklin
These would not seem to be the words of evangelical Christians. While I would not claim that this is an "overwhelming" majority of the founding fathers. I would submit that this collection of luminaries is in large part responsible for our constitution.
One final note, US law was not based on biblical teachings, but on English Common Law, which was itself based on Roman Law, which preceded the birth of Christianity by a century or two. In fact, in 1797 the United States Senate ratified the treaty of Tripoli which stated clearly in article 11, "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..." This during a time when most of the founding fathers were not only still alive, but many served in this very same Senate.
It would seem that our founders have made perfectly clear their thoughts on religion and its relation to the government of the United States. The question is do we choose to believe their words and their deeds, or look for some unspecified intentions they may have had to prove our own point?
Published by Dean Shutt
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9 Comments
Post a CommentBelrad, I'm glad you have actually heard of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, three great Classical Humanist philosophers along with Cicero and Epictetus. Classical Humanists were Theists not Atheists and not "cracker barrel" philosophers like Bertrand Russel, Ayn Rand and Peter Singer. What I learned from Socrates and Plato is that your "unexamined life" is not worth living. Singer, the greatest living cracker barrel Atheist Philosopher, tells us that it's a pity newborn babies are so cute because it interferes with killing them. If you had sat on the committee that condemned Socrates, they would have gone for the Hemlock twice as fast as they did.
For intelligent readers, a wonderful, scholarly account of the intellectual history of the blood drenched creed of Atheism can be fount in Donald De Marco, The Architects of the Culture of Death.
For future readers: I actually looked up the Treaty of Tripoli instead of taking Dr. Adair's word that it "is a complete fraud." As it turns out, the Treaty DOES exist, and WAS ratified by the Senate in 1797 by a unanimous vote - WITH the faux-controversial Article 11, as quoted by Dean.
(oops, ran out of characters)... Indeed, for a doctorate-holding student of philosophy, Dr. Adair's ignorance of the existence of Socrates, Artistotle, Plato, and a vast number of other classical philosophical greats of a secular inclination is quite striking. Perhaps that doctorate is in "Christian" philosophy?
Let us pray for him, that he might find peace and get that anger problem under control.
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You know, I was just pondering the oddity of the claim that America is a "Christian Nation" while her people so rarely uphold the proffessed values of the faith when I chanced across this article. Lo and Behold! Here in the comments section, the good Dr. Adair put in an appearance to demonstrate exactly that paradox. Apparently, the most fundamental Christian values like "love they neighbor", "do unto others", or even some common civility, do not apply when it comes to 'atheist swine.'
I also find it remarkable that such a well educated individual like Dr. Adair, who specializes in Philosophy and loves his religion so dearly as to resort to uncouth ad hominem attacks on a person who *dares* to disagree with his beliefs, is by his own admission unaware that Jesus Christ was, in fact, a Jew.
Indeed, for a doctorate-holding student of philosophy, his ignorance of the existence of Socrates, Artistotle, Plato, and a vast number of other classical
Readers will notice that Mr. Adair hasn't presented a single fact to back up his case. This "man of god" prefers to call me names as opposed to actually having a civil debate. His philosophy instructors would be ashamed of his ad hominem attacks on the messenger in place of debating the message.
Oh, I should mention that the Treaty of Tripoli you quoted is a complete fraud, just like you. It is also supposed to represent the the words of George Washington. There is a real treaty which was signed after he had left office but the real treaty contains none of the language so gleefully quoted by the lying Atheists. I should point out that there has never been a great philosopher who was an Atheist. But, As a person with a doctor's degree in Philosophy, I have actually studied the subject.
What an uneducated nincompoop like you doesn't understand is that real history is based on reading all the relevant historical documents not just a few wrenched from their proper literary and historical context. The Classical definition of the purpose of education is "The formation of moral character." You obviously have none! Jesus Christ Was a critic of "organized religion", so by your twisted illogic, He wasn't a Christian. Fanatic Atheists like you who want to turn our country into a tyranny like your beloved Soviet Union are a distinct minority. You're the one who needs the luck.
So let me get this straight, you believe in all-powerful being that lives in the sky and I'm living in the fantasy world. Good luck with that
If any of your readers would like to learn the truth about Americas's founding, they should read my article on AC. The author of this article lives in some sort of Atheist fantasy world and would greatly benefit from a course in logic and remedial reading.