Posted on 04/16/2009 12:07:03 PM PDT by RatherBiased.com
President Obama told a news conference in Turkey last week that America “is not a Christian nation,” thus demonstrating that it is indeed possible for a Harvard Law graduate to be correct strictly as a matter of law and otherwise completely out to lunch on the fact of history. Here’s how our chief executive put it: “Although…we have a large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”
Technically, Obama was right. America’s government provides no official support for any particular faith, Christian or otherwise. But he would have been more historically accurate to say America was created by a mostly Christian people based on principles closely reflecting their faith, including the right of individual conscience.
Or, to put it in Obama’s terms, America was and remains a nation of citizens bound by ideals and a set of values that make little sense apart from their explicitly Christian history, experience and convictions.
Skeptical? Check out the preambles to the 50 state constitutions, each of which refers to God. Surprised? The following list includes the adoption dates of the documents quoted, which span virtually the nation’s whole history:
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Well, maybe to a lapsed-Christian-Muslim-Pagan...he DID cover up the crosses at his last press conference...
” The preambles to the 50 state constitutions, each of which refers to God”
How many refer to Christ, as a matter of interest?
-Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, signed by John Adams, June 10, 1797.
Did he really say that? Mr. Obama, please, kiss my ass. You’re a traitor, on top of being a sleazebag slacker.
Right-o, not a constitutional theocracy, I think we're all in agreement on that.
But not a Christian nation? Very debatable and provocative point.
Numerous references to the Christian religion are made by the founders and the majority of Americans call themselves Christians.
So, I say, Obama's splitting hairs and selling his people down the river once again.
It is arguably a Christian doctrine that no civil government be anything but a secular one administered by Christians.
The Founding Fathers were Deists, which is more or less closer to Atheism, than anything else.
On top of that, the “vast majority” of Americans were specifically excluded from participation through elections, by the clause that required the owning of property, in order to be able to vote. The Founding Fathers probably couldn’t care less about the voting rights of those without property... which would be the “vast majority” at the time.
I never knew the Founding Fathers, never went to church with them, or anything like. But I do post their quotes here almost every day, and I've noticed numerous unambiguous references to the Christian faith.
Once again, that and the fact that most Americans are profession Christians reiterates my point. The President misrepresented his country if he didn't make the distinction between the legal constitution and popular composition of the nation.
profession > professing.
There are plenty of quotes that hint at, or directly acknowledge, a Deist / Atheist belief, too.
When talking to a foreign government, what should it be? Technically (which is the way it really is) right, or historically accurate?
...he DID cover up the crosses at his last press conference...
I havent’ heard anyone discussing this today. It seems pretty big to me.
It's the President's job to represent the position that he has been elected to, not to categorize everyone into an umbrella religious group.
I can accept that many Judeo-Christian pricinples went into the founding of the country, alongside many principles from reason and the Enlightenment.
But calling America a Christian country portrays non-Christians as something less than full Americans.
Where were a vast number of early public school classes held?
What book did congress approve and recommend for public schools in 1782?
Which colleges and universities began as institutions of Christian teaching?
Where were many town meetings held in early America?
What book published by the NEA from 1941-1968 included passages of scripture?
Just a few relevant questions.
Neither this thread nor my comments are about "calling America a Christian country." They are, instead, about positively stating that it is not a Christian nation, which is a whole different animal.
And, as I said at least once, and apparently need to say again...no, forget it. You can open your eyes (and mind) and reread them if you still don't get it.
Then I guess he should also categorically say that America isn't a Diest/Atheist nation, too.
Hmmmm. Interesting argument.
Instead of saying that your statement makes no sense, I'll take a stab at what Obama should have said. How about this:
"The United States was not founded upon the Christian faith. But while Americans are predominantly Christian, we continue to respect the beliefs and consciences of every American to seek spiritual fulfillment without interference from the state or the majority."
And if you say the statement I made makes no sense, I think that says a bit more about you than it.
We could simplify things and say this, Obama categorically stated a negative proposition. The burden of proof is upon him (and all those who seem to be defending the idea here).
What is this, the Obama Caucus on FR? The Atheist's Corner? History Deniers? Semenatical Misfits?
Legal terminology on his part.
If this statement by one of our founding fathers is true:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” - John Adams (with which I wholly agree)...
then by stating that we are not a Christian nation Obama then justifies his (and his party’s) attempts in overturning the Constitution with situational law.
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