In a 2007 interview with beliefnet.com, John McCain stated that “the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.” While some were encouraged by McCain's words, others took great offense, reigniting a passionate debate about the intentions of America’s founders. Was the U.S. built on Christian principles, or are we a purely secular nation?
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Explanation:
Republics and democracy are not biblical concepts. The Biblical form of government is monarchy. We rejected that in our revolution. Everyone's favourite word 'disestablishmentarianism' describes our revolution. The The Christian religion was disestablished at our revolution. Even before the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution there was the clause forbidding religious tests.
We get our democratic traditions from the Gre
Is the U.S. a Christian Nation?
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a simple test
There is a simple way to show that our laws are not based on Christian doctrine. The core of Christian doctrine are the ten commandments. Not only are many of them NOT codified american law, the exact opposite is law.
Example:
"you shall have no other gods before me."
This is a commandment and the exact opposite is codified into the foundation document of our nation; The Constitution.
- reckoner
September 24, 2008 10:21AM
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simple test
CHRISTIANITY: is NOT based on the ten commandments ..It is based on the fullfillment of the ten commandments.LIFE= SATISFACTION ,DEATH=SATISFACTION, Burial & RESURECTION=NEW SATITISFACTION & RELATIONSHIP ...YOUR, TEST-premis, is wrong ..THIS nation was founded under the interpritation of (new testament) teaching & belief...THE principles & ideals incorperated; that were deemed by those founders as being more than adequite for human life and the propogation of life, are & were,the best man could do for himself so to speak ..To adjucate another form of GOV'T ,would circumvent the basis for human existance; which is agreed to be: LIFE LIBERTY & ONE'S OWN PERSUTE OF HAPPINESS,(an individual interpritation),outside of the rule of common law &would bring into question the very existance & formation of these United States of AMERICA...A Country that promotes no one's ideal or preferences over another's...FREEDOM...THIS country has these principles that align with human nature in itself ../There is no GOV't in human history that employes this type of foundation, for ALL men & PEOPLES to exist tgether in harmony...When left to function as INTENDED...SO; THIS Country was founded on principles & precepts that are known by any intelligent person to be in the best interests of ALL who are citizens of this GOV'T..END of STORY NOBODY says
- nobody
October 1, 2008 8:12AM
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Read the Constitution ...
In answer to John McCain and others regarding what the U.S. Constitution does and does not establish, I suggest reading the Constitution. If, in fact, the intent were to create a Christian nation, the name of Jesus Christ would have been prominent throughout with due mention of "God" and his relationship to Jesus, his church, the Pope, disciples, etc. The language would have been very thick with Christianity to reflect such a purpose. As it happens, the Constitution contains no mention whatsoever of such person or entity nor does it even hint at a Christian intent. One would think this rather odd and lacking in devotion and foresight if the intent were to create a Christian nation. I find it unsettling that a man who has won the Republican Party nomination as their candidate for Presidency of the United States is so poorly versed in the contents of the document he might potentially be sworn to uphold and defend. Knowing at least the content and spirit of the document would seem a minimum knowledge for a presidential candidate and a much deeper understanding of the document, its genuine roots, its history and consequences of its adoption much more appropriate for one who wishes to be the leader of the nation which it formed.
As most discussions of the U.S. Constitution point out, it is the supreme law of the land as derived from many sources - English common law, The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, ideas of Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu, the ideas of John Locke, of the Enlightenment movement in Europe, mainly that of Scotland, and has roots stretching back to the Magna Carta of 1215. The Bill of Rights is heavily rooted in the English Bill of Rights and the Virginia Declaration of Rights. In all of these documents, little to no mention is made of Jesus Christ or of the Judeo-Christian "God" as the basis of such thinking, power or authority.
Again, all of this is a rather startling revelation if the assumption is the United States was established as a Christian nation. One would think there would be far content directly borrowed from the much revered Christian Bible IF the United States was to be a mere extension of that religion. Unfortunately, the U.S. Constitution and most of the founding documentation of the United States are very much lacking in Christian text, thought, intent and spirit.
It is clear, the intent of the founders of the nation did not include extending the beliefs of christians to serve as the surpreme thought or law of this land. It actually takes very little education at all to understand what the primary intent was - a nation which guarantees liberty to all with respect for individual rights. The intent was to establish a nation where no man is beholding to a master other than himself. Odd thing to do if one of the alleged underlying assumptions was to be "Ye shall have no other gods before me."
The intent in founding this nation was to make the individual his own god, now and forever. Quite the anti-Christian thing to do.
- Naumadd
September 24, 2008 4:52PM
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Man his Own God?
I would disagree. While they may not have codified specific Christian beliefs into the Constitution, John Adams is quoted as saying "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." This is merely an example.
The point, though, is that while forcing the beliefs of Christianity on the populace was not part of the Federal government, it certainly wasn't disallowed (until the 14th amendment) for States to do. The Founding Fathers knew, wisely, that the only way to sustain the individual liberty they had written into the Constitution was for the people to be moral and religious. Religion, being the primary way to transfer morality and values to succeeding generations, is necessary, especially when there is more liberty.
This is why secular humanists tend towards socialism and AWAY from the liberty that the Founding Fathers wanted... the liberty our country is leaving faster every day.
- Benjamin Tuttle
October 3, 2008 3:30PM
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Secular Humanism
Having met many other secular humanists, I can attest to the fact that not a single one of them spoke in favor of reductions of liberty for anyone. Quite the contrary. The aim of secular humanism is equal respect both for the religious and the non-religious and, more basic, the greatest degree of individual liberty possible to respect and encourage abundant diversity among human beings. What we've had in our history by way of Christian influences has been quite unfriendly to the non-Christian, the non-religious, to diversity and to maximum individual liberty, even demonstrably violent.
As for socialism, nothing is more tribal, "group-think" or socialist than a central religion, most especially a Christian one. The advantage of secular humanism is that it has no central tenet denying diversity of thought, speech, or lifestyle. If you spot a secular humanist who advocates for socialist causes, and by that I mean increased tribalism or group-think and state control, I would submit they're not much of a secular humanist.
Humanists celebrate human diversity and individual liberty. Judaism, Christianity and Islam have very poor records on both counts.
- Naumadd
October 3, 2008 7:25PM
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Interesting
This is interesting insite. I would of never thought along these lines, but it is none the less interesting.
- justsomeguywithanopinion
November 13, 2008 1:50PM
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Argumentum ex silentio
The framers of the Constitution were obviously concerned with retaining their rights as Englishmen. But nowhere in the Constitution do we find the phrase "rights of Englishmen". Argumentum ex silentio is fallacious reasoning. The fact that a document is silent on some word or phrase is not evidence that the concept represented by the word or phrase was absent from the minds of the writers.
Nor is there justification to demand that a nation based on Christian principles, or even more specifically, Biblical expressions, must absolutely repeat those Biblical phrases within its constitution. We might as well argue that because the Pledge of Allegiance doesn't mention the three branches of government, therefore, Americans aren't really concerned about either or all of those branches; or that because a document agreeing to a cessation of hostilities doesn't mention the word "peace", the signers don't really want peace.
The only reason to say that it takes little education to understand the Founders' intents would seem to be to justify all kinds of unfounded speculation and revision of political history. Understanding the Founders' intent takes a great deal of education. If it took little education, they would not have felt obligated to spend so much time explaining their intentions in such detail. And if it took little education, more people would be citing the Federalist Papers to support their misguided arguments directly opposing those obvious intentions.
- Forumgitator
January 3, 2009 1:21AM
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It depends on what you mean by "Christian" ...
It depends on what you mean by "Christian"; if you mean a nation of people who go to churchs that call themselves "christian" then Yes, we are a "christian" nation.
If by "Christian" you mean a nation of people who live according to the Commandments of Jesus, then Hell No; we are not even close to Christian.
The first choice is "nominal" christianity, the second is Actual Christianity.
"You will know them by their works." Our works testify AGAINST us.
- sean s
September 24, 2008 7:33PM
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"Some"
"Some" individuals go to churches, "some" individuals call themselves "christian". Since the beginning of European occupation of the "American" continent, and acknowledging the continuing primarily christian majority, the land has always been a mixed bag of philosophies, beliefs, religious practices and continues in that manner today. It is improper to call the continent, country, nation, a "christian" nation when one can only be speaking of the majority, NOT the total combined population. I suppose it continues to be unfair to speak of "America" without also including its original occupants in the mix. One might say, up to the time the European peoples violently and non-violently shifted the balance of population on the continent, "America" was primarily a mix of native american beliefs and religions.
One ought to be more accurate in one's use of "we". Which "we" are you referring to? Surely not everyone considered to be "American" and certainly not the nation as a whole. If only speaking of a majority, then "nation" is a larger set and "christian" does not purely apply to it.
- Naumadd
September 25, 2008 2:14AM
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I would agree
I would agree with what you have said here.
That is exactly what I had in mind when I read this question. Good way of defining Christianity. To say one is a Christian because they go to Church is different than saying one is a Christian because they obey the word of God.
I happened into a conversation between a supposed Minister and a Christian here in this forum and they were not very civil to each other. I would say that neither were very Christian.
- justsomeguywithanopinion
November 13, 2008 1:53PM
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What does our constitution contain....
...that is explicitly denied by the Bible? The answer: A LOT.
Check out a complete list here: http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/is-america-a-christian-nation.html
- bagpiper2005
September 27, 2008 4:38AM
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Another source to consult ...
Another source to consult would be the Treaty of Tripoli; the text can be found at: ( http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html ). Negotiated in 1796 and Ratified in 1797; Article 11 is particularly telling:
"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
If the Framers/Founders of the United States did not think it was a Christian Nation, then exactly when did that change?
- sean s
September 28, 2008 9:52AM
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Who said it a Christian nation in the first place?
The Pilgrims came the U.S to seek religious freedom & then it led to the massacre of Native Indians. As time progress the enslavement of the Africans for centuries. There is nothing Christian about that.
As time go on this nation is getting more and more immoral. When a nation is getting deeper into sexual immorality and fail to retain God in their knowledge the future is not so bright. For instance, taking prayers out of school and the Bible says in Proverbs 9 vs.10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding." Removing the 10 commandments from the courts, legalizing gay marriage which is totally against God's will and nature, promoting pornography which destroys homes and etc.
Every nation on earth which was great before the U.S, their reign came to an end due to high sexual immorality and their disregard for God. For example: Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, the Babylonian empire, & the British Empire.
If the nation's principles is contrary to the word of God it is not a Christian nation. You can't say you are a Christian nation and everything you stand for and believe is against God.
- Tamara
September 29, 2008 9:51AM
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That's the question, darling.
The question was "Is the U.S. a Christian Nation?"
And the reason why there is such constant dispute about sex and who should be allowed to have it, and babies before marriage, and all manner of "problems", who should get married to who, who should be exposed to religion and who shouldn't...
Those problems stem from the wonderful Christians who seek to force everyone else to attain the standards they seek.
Take, for example, your obvious objection towards the non-discrimination of people based on their sexual preference.
Maybe you should really reexamine what it means to be a Christian. That would mean you would actually have to follow the words and teachings of Christ and only Christ. If, as you say, people should be Christian, it might actually behoove you to be one and not a Bible-ist. And if half the Senators and Congressional members who claim to be Christians would do the same you'd be living in a Communist state... but gays wouldn't be allowed to marry and sex would require a wedding!
And yet, it's funny but I don't see you giving away your computer. You surely don't need it to live, but yet you keep it. I mean, how much harder is it for the rich man to go to heaven than for the camel to go through a haystack of needles? You should really take that splinter out of your own eye before you start pointing your finger at innocent trees.
Or something like that.
You're morals are not absolute. Thank whatever god you want to for that. And thank whatever god you want to that the rest of us don't have to follow the misguided rules that you've been spoon fed.
- SocialistBetty
December 31, 2008 10:51PM
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Founded on Christian Principles
I believe that the United States was founded on Christian beliefs and that our forefathers were Christians. The intent of our founding fathers was for the United States to be a Christian nation. This was carried out for the most part for the first couple hundred years of the country’s founding. After that, people started getting their own ideas about things. I don’t know if this is because they just wanted to be different and go against the grain, so to speak, or if they really believed in the things they were teaching.
Early on in America’s history, the debate was not over specific religion, but over denominations. Just about everyone was a Christian, but denominations were very strong and they often argued about whose was the best or most Biblical. These arguments stemmed into more heated debates that broke off into complete other religions. Today we see all kinds of religions that people actually believe in. For this reason, I don’t believe that the United States is a Christian nation.
I think as far as specific religions go, there are probably more people who claim to be Christian than any other religion, but that does not make the nation classify as “Christian”. Look at all the things that are published in books, magazines and newspapers and shown on television and in movies that do not reflect a Christian lifestyle in the least. These things alone are enough to disprove the statement that we live in a Christian nation.
Some would argue that more than ninety percent of Americans believe in God. That may be so but believing in God and having the relationship with Him that allows you to be classified as a Christian are two completely different things. Many times, the American idea of Christianity is believing in God, but that won’t get you to Heaven. For these reasons, I don’t think we can consider the United States a “Christian nation”.
- wphillips September 30, 2008 1:50PM
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This is not a moral nation.
I'm with you, WPhillips, in believing that the U.S. is no longer a purely Christian nation. The founding ideas were based on Roman, British, and Christian traditions and ideas. That is obvious.
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As the world has "grown smaller", non-Christians have wanted to see how much of their own potential they could realize in this Christian, capitalist, socially liberal country. Some succeeded; their faiths were maintained; they evangelized; the number of adherents of their faiths grew. We see the uniquely American result. Muslims, more divided than Christians, have learned better here to live in peace and form inter-madrasa or inter-sect fellowships. It will be in America, and because of her tradition of religious tolerance and religious freedom, that Muslims will find their long-elusive unity.
At the same time tolerance has weakened into fear, freedom has twisted into emboldened immorality, and liberalism has fractured into confusion, instability, and misdirection.
I don't condemn Christianity, nor Christians particularly, for what has happened. It is the result of human nature, unrestricted by the Founders' idea of balancing opposing interests, and free of humane self-control and personal self-discipline that religion can provide. No religion will solve America's problems if Americans insist on irreligious habits. While I commend those Christians and Muslims and atheists who do attempt to live moral lives while encouraging others to do likewise, I personally believe it is time in the world for some new system -- of faith or morality or conscientiousness.
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Past religions no longer seem to provide the enthusiasm, conviction, determination, selflessness they once did. I am comfortable saying that the U.S. is historically a Christian nation, yet recognize that that reality is changing. We need something more persuasive than we currently have, to overcome our divisions, our faithlessness, our confusion, our fear and intolerance (of Christians as well as of non-Christians), and our lurching from left to right and right to left every four or eight years.
- Forumgitator
January 3, 2009 1:43AM
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Christian nation
I believe we were founded as a christian nation for the simple fact that we gave people the right to choose their religion. Many other nations don't give their people the freedom to decide what religion they want to believe in. Example is China. Many christians in china have to worship in secret because they would be jailed or even killed for practiceing Christianity. The God of the Bible gave us the free will to either except or reject Him (Deuteronomy 30:19 says that God has set life and death before us so choose life). So even though He wants us to choose life He gives us the chance to choose death. And as a nation we have given people the right to choose just as God has done. We don't force anyone to believe any certain way. Just because that we have chosen as a nation in general to choose against God doesn't mean we aren't still founded on the principles of God, which includes free will.
- moorejesus
September 30, 2008 2:49PM
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Defining a Christian Nation
There is no national religion, nor should there be, but our founding fathers had a "Western" "Christian" worldview. We are a secular nation containing many religions but founded by Christian influenced men. They formed our nation and laws based on that worldview. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights" If the US had been formed by Japanese Shinto of their time, then the basis would have been different. We change interpretations over time but that version of a "Western""Christian" worldview remains. If you agree with the basic ideals of the nation then that is all that matters, no matter your religion. I think this is mostly a tempest in a teapot.
- againes
October 1, 2008 10:44AM
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We are founded that way, where are we now?
Is the nation based on Christian principles, or are we a purely secular nation? This question, asked to 'catch' the eye of any skeptical reader was thrown into the prolouge for many purposes. I believe that the question is semi-correct and semi-incorrect. Yes, the nation 'was' based on Chrsitian principles, and for that reason we Americans can take on the very few moral values left as our own. But yes our nation is turning towards a purely secular nation. CHRISTIANITY: is NOT based on the ten commandments ..It is based on the fullfillment of the ten commandments-this comment is explicitly correct.
- Juanita October 1, 2008 2:17PM
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It's obvious!
"Are we a christian nation?" It's accepted to be homosexual. It's accepted to abort a baby. Pornography is accepted like mickey mouse is for children. Certain drugs should be legal. The first word that should obviously come to ones mind is"IMMORAL!!" So...NO WE ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN NATION!" How could anyone identify themselves as a christian and promote these things by agreeing with them or participating in them and use the same mouth to say they're a christian???
- kim42
October 2, 2008 2:47AM
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The fact is...
The fact is, our nation was built upon Christian morals. Are we still seeking after Christ as a nation? Trying to find His will for our country and not our own? Well I would have to say no to both.
When the pilgrims first came to America they were trying to seek after religious freedom. They wanted a nation where they could worship the one true God, the God of Jacob, Isaac, and Esau, freely. The Declaration of Independence is even based upon the Word of God, stating that, "...all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..."
The question is, do we as a nation still believe and trust in the same God as our forefathers did before us. Since we are allowed to practice any religion in America, it makes people wonder why we would consider America a Christian nation, but not a Hindu or Islamic nation. The fact still remains though that we were built upon a Christian perspective, not a Hindu or Islamic perspective.
Are we acting as a Christian nation should act? I believe in any nation, you will have people from all sorts of different religious backgrounds. There is just no getting around that. No country is going to be completely Christian. But as a nation, I would consider the United States to be Christian, because of these basic principles our forefathers have set before us. And so far, we have not dismissed them as being unreliable for our nation.
- hacacia October 4, 2008 4:21PM
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Only Christian Influences?
As a Canadian studying in the United States, I have always been fascinated over how
Christian Americans and those of varying beliefs have debated over this topic. Having watched videos such as David Barton’s “America’s Godly Heritage” and “The Role of Pastors & Christians in Civil Government” and read various books on this topic for classes, I have formed the opinion that the United States’ leaders at the time of the formation of the Constitution were influenced by their beliefs when drafting the document but intended that the United States remain free from any set religion. Yes, many of the Founding Fathers were Christians but the Constitution does not in any way establish the United States as a Christian nation.
Many of the principles in the Constitution are based on Judeao-Christian principles. Yet many of these same principles are shared in religions much older than both the Jewish and Christian faith’s. Therefore, basing that Constitution establishes the United States as a Christian nation on this argument is faulty. To be correct, one would have to include all of the other religions that share the same principles found in the Constitution and not exclusively claim the principles to be directly derived from the Judeo-Christian heritage. Many of the founding fathers were well versed in ancient history and were aware of different cultures. Could we then, deduce that their knowledge of history influence their input into the forming of the Constitution? Why choose only the Christian influence to highlight? Why not highlight the other influences that these men pulled from to construct the Constitution of the United States? Therefore, from this stand point, it is impossible to state, from the Judeao-Christian principles theory, that the Constitution is a Christian document supporting that the United States is a Christian nation.
Lastly, the first Amendment clearly states that the Congress will not make laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit the freedom to exercise religion. Having established this Amendment, the founding fathers clearly established that the Constitution was not be considered a Christian document. In this way, anyone in the
United States could choose his/her own religious beliefs without persecution for those beliefs. With this statement clearly presented in the Constitution, I cannot see how anyone could interpret this document of government to establish the United States as a Christian nation. Christianity was a major influence during the formative years of the country but the United States was established as a relligiously free nation.
I believe that many Christians of the United States rely on the fact that many of the Founding Fathers believed in God to state that the Constitution establishes the United States as a Christian nation. Pushing that morality is impossible without a religious belief, people tend to forget while this is true, many belief systems were at work while the Constitution was being formed. Therefore, I say that the Constitution does not establish the United States as a Christian nation but rather establishes the United States as a country free for people to practice the Christian religion.
- havefaith October 8, 2008 3:10PM
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Freedom Foremost
What defines Christian, who wrote the Constitution and what does it say?
These three elements are essential in the interpretation of John McCain’s
statement, “the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation.”
Definition provides a mirror for interpretation. In the Webster’s New
Twentieth Century Dictionary of The English Language, the adjective Christian is defined by Noah Webster as: “of the teachings of Jesus Christ, having the qualities demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ , as love, kindness, etc., human, decent.” On this basis, anyone or anything described as Christian should
not find offence. William Martin PHD would agree along with Dr. Paul S. Vickory that this nation could be defined as an upstanding moral, human and decent country. The founders of any idea or structure give that thought or building credence without further interpretation. Dr. Paul S. Vickory, through direct quotations of
the founding Fathers of the U.S. Constitution, provides evidence of the Christian intent and thought given in its inception and writing by revealing the character of the person behind the words. On the other hand, William Martin seems to misconstrue the wording and interpret the meanings based on the worldview of today’s society in which we live and on isolated past documents. To dispute any work, one must be knowledgeable of it. In fact, most Americans are ignorant of not only what the Constitution says but to whom it was written,why, when, and in what context. Ignorance breeds contempt. To clarify, a Christian country does not mean a theocratic one. William Martin alluded to the fact that preferential treatment was allotted only to the Christian sect to the seclusion of all others. When in fact, America was built upon this statement made by the late President Abraham Lincoln that, “All men are created equal.” Furthermore, John Adams wrote: “The general principles on which the father’s
achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow
that I then believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.” Consequently, even though this nation endorses religious freedom as was the pilgrims cause in coming to America, does not negate its foundational principles being in the word of God. In knowing the meaning of Christian as to a state of moral decency founded on Biblical principles giving all human beings a right of
choice; in knowing our Founding
Fathers’characters were molded by Christian ethics; and in knowing their choice of wordage was for the protection of the freedom and rights of all Americans should then be a source of relief and comfort to all those who heard McCain’s speech endorsing this nation as a Christian one.To not know our roots is to not secure our future.
In truly evaluating any wordage or document is to know who said it, when was it said, to whom was it said and what was said.John Adams wrote: “The general principles on which the father’s achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”Indeed, Christian does not mean theocracy. William Martin who supports that the early Presidents regarded the new nation as a secular state is indeed using his own bias. On the contrary, one of the greatest statements ever made by President Abraham Lincoln is that, “All men are created equal.” This freedom of
status and religion in this country is unparallel anywhere else in the world.
- rock star October 9, 2008 11:47AM
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Unanswerable Except By Definition!
This sort of question is maximally pointless, as it depends wholly on the definition of "Christian nation." If you accept a proponent's definition, you're forced to go along with his position on the matter.
PRO:
-- Our founding documents are redolent of Christianity;
-- Seven of the Ten Commandments are buried in our laws;
-- 74% of Americans classify themselves as Christians;
-- American charity is very much in the Christian spirit.
By the standards prevalent in the Middle East, America is indubitably a Christian nation. BUT...
CON:
-- America has no established church;
-- Every religion and sect known to Man is at home here;
-- Religious and scriptural arguments are invalid in our courts;
-- Religious tests for public office are barred by the Constitution.
By a purely political reckoning, America is not a Christian nation.
Pay your money and take your choice.
- fporretto
October 16, 2008 1:52PM
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I agree...
I agree that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. Of course, times have changed, and many people do not follow the same moral code that was established with the beginning of our country, but I would still consider it a Christian nation.
When the pilgrims first came to the New World, they came in search of religious freedom. This freedom was the whole reason for founding America. This alone shows that we based our idea of liberty for our country off the example God gave us through Salvation. He gives a free will- the choice to choose our beliefs. This is exactly what the pilgrims did by allowing people to worship without being penalized. The majority of those who came to the New World at that time would have considered themselves Christians, but as we see today, Americans have taken part in a moral decline that I believe is far from the intentions of the original founders of our nation.
Not only did the story of the Pilgrims reveal the Christian establishment of our country, but so did the “Founding Fathers” who wrote our Constitution. George Washington is a perfect example. He obviously had Christian beliefs and is recorded to have used 102 different names for God when speaking of the founding and future direction of America. He also said that he believed that God was watching over him in the midst of an intense battle in which he came close to getting killed many times. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson also showed that they were dependent on God for the success of our nation. John Adams said, “The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.” From this, it is obvious that he believed that the Christian principles the United States was founded on are still relevant to us today. Finally, Alexander Hamilton remarked that the two things that make America great are Christianity and the Constitution based on Christianity. All of these things convince me that the United States of America was founded with Christian beliefs and continues to be a Christian nation.
- alg October 19, 2008 2:09PM
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No in one aspect and yes in another...
Is America a Christian Nation?
In relation and comparison to the Middle East and how they are an Islamic nation, America is not a Christian nation. People from Islamic nations are more devout in their religion and integrate it in their daily lives—for example in schools. In current times, America calls itself a “Christian Nation” merely just as a title. For Americans do not integrate Christianity and its values in their daily lives. Americans seem to keep that just for Sunday mornings at best. During the other times, many are living their own lives most often leaving Christianity out of the equation. Yet, it is unquestionable that America was indeed founded upon Christian principles and such was the purpose in its findings too. The pilgrims came to America in search of religious freedom. In that sense, America is a ‘Christian nation’ in that it was founded upon a Christian heritage. Furthermore, it is quoted that apparently 80 percent of Americans say they are “Christian.” Many Americans are willing to even say that a God exists. It is only to this that America is a “Christian nation.” It is a title with no substance that many Americans cling to based upon tradition.
- LJ1067 October 20, 2008 1:29PM
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Morality Is Undefined Faith. . .
Morality is undefined faith, and thus, indirectly Christianity. It is impossible to label America as a Christian nation based off of the number of participating Christians in the U.S. I think that the more correct way to assess the debate is to realize that not only Christianity exists. In fact, many other religions relate to Christianity in the sense that parts of the faith mirrors its morality. It is a common knowledge that murder is wrong, stealing is unjust, everyone deserves to be treated well, etc. These are moral aspects stemming from Christianity and branching out of the religion to a point that even atheists agree! Some may disagree, but ask this: What tells us these things are wrong or right? We in ourselves as humans really have no means of defining these parallels, but we do live by a faith-based code that does - most commonly called Christianity. As a child we are taught these things. We may grow up and decide to not practice Christianity, but we still do not forget these ideas – we still believe them even if we don’t believe there is a God. So while many citizens of the United States of America do not practice Christianity, or may not practice a faith at all, the way of life adhered to within our nation is based on Christian principles deeply rooted in our "conscience"; A conscience of Christianity. Thus, I believe the USA to be a Christian nation, as well as most other foreign countries, no matter how misguided the surface appearance may seem. Despite the fact that some laws in America do not reflect the beliefs of myself or peers, the way most of Americans relate to one another does. Morality is everywhere, even if it does not bear the title “Christian”. This will never leave the way we live, and as a result the U.S. will always be, to some degree, a Christian nation.
- htalburt October 21, 2008 11:05AM
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Has the U.S. ever been a Christian nation?
I really like what Sean said above about how it depends on how we define Christianity to determine whether the U.S. can be defined as a Christian nation. What defines a Christian, anyway? Is it the church you go to, or the amount of money you give to charity? Is it because that is what your mother and father were? Is it because you prayed a prayer a long time ago, even though you haven’t prayed since, or because you think you’re a good person?
If that is what defines a Christian, then yes, America is definitely a Christian nation. Unfortunately, all of these things do not constitute a Christian. It’s about a relationship with God. By looking at America, one has to wonder what kind of relationship the people of the United States have with God. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters.” In other words, you can’t straddle the fence. You can only be on one side or the other.
As far as the founding of America, one can argue that America and its Constitution were founded in Christianity, but that is obviously up for debate. Many of the Founding Fathers, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were deists. This meant that they believed in God, or a higher power, but that he has no intervention in the world. This clearly contradicts many denominations of Christianity in America.
When the Constitution was formed, it was based on Judaeo-Christian beliefs because the Founding Fathers had come out of the Church of England. These beliefs constituted the moral code of the time, and these were the principles the founders of our country were raised to believe. The Constitution may have been based on Christian beliefs, but perhaps it was because those beliefs formed the morality of the Founding Fathers and not necessarily their religion. There is a difference between being a “good person” and a Christian. I personally aspire to be both.
- amberf October 21, 2008 12:39PM
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The Answer Here is: Of Course
You may not like it. You may wish it wasn't true. But the United States is -- without question -- a Christian nation. What book does the president use to swear in? Who is on our money? Who do we reference during our Pledge of Allegiance. The fact is, if you are of a different relgion other than Christianity, you will have trouble running for office in America. Not saying it can't be done, but it's a hurdle.
- Vandal K
December 5, 2008 9:02AM
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America is not Exclusively Christian
The United States is not a "Christian nation." It is a secular nation that was founded by Christians, and is populated primarily by Christians, and does show many influences of Christianity. That being said, The US is a multicultural, multi-religious nation. Last time I checked, Jesus is not on our money, nor does he feature in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jews and Muslims worship the same God, and who's to say that it's even that God that it is referring to? Could it not be a general statement to whatever "God" the individual making the statement refers to? It may be difficult to be elected, but there are no laws barring non-Christians from running for office. Vatican City is a Christian nation. America may have a large Christian majority, but it is not a Christian nation.
- richardsonkr
December 5, 2008 7:34PM
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Amazing
It would really do many in our country to go back and read more about the writing of the constitution. Maybe, we would also get some benefit from understanding the people who first colonized our country and the reasons why they were coming for many was to escape religious persecution. Even though they were "Christian", they came from religious minorities in their own countries. They were discriminated against for their brand of "Christianity". Our founding fathers, very wisely, wrote our founding documents to protect minority religious views. By keeping our collective religious faiths out of public (all parts of government) it provides the safe atmosphere for minority and majority religious views. As such, to ask if we are a Christian nation one must answer no, even though the majority of it's inhabitants may, possibly follow any one of many hundreds of brands of christian belief. The US is definitely a secular country by law.
- mangueken
December 10, 2008 12:03PM
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