Posted on 10/05/2014 6:02:28 PM PDT by vabible
I have heard much impassioned debate lately about the question of whether America was founded as a Christian nation, so let's set the record straight here. The concept of a Christian nation is not found in the Bible, because it is impossible to have a Christian nation in this day and age. Christianity is the way of freedom and liberty. To receive Jesus Christ's free offer of eternal life is a matter of personal choice and conscience, mysteriously wrought in the individual human heart, will, and soul as God's Spirit draws all men to Himself.
Therefore, it is impossible to legislate Christianity into a nation. You cannot legislate morality any more than you can legislate saving faith. Here is another way of phrasing this: I believe with all my heart that the concept of a Christian theocracy, where both Christians and non-Christians are forced by the state to live a Christian/moral life, is abhorrent to the Christian God, just as forced conversions are abhorrent to the Christian God. We get a glimpse into how God views dead surface-level legalism in how Jesus dealt with the Pharisees - He reserved some of His harshest words for them. God looks at the heart, and that is an area of personal liberty, not political or institutional control.
At this point, I hope that those who come down on the side that America was not founded as a Christian nation are feeling somewhat vindicated, because while they may not be able to put their finger on it directly, something just doesn't feel right about the harsh judgmentalism of the Religious Right and other cultural warriors who want the Bible to be America's Constitution. I apologize that there are Christians who have a distorted view of God. But I wanted to challenge you with this thought:
America may not have been founded as a Christian nation, but it was founded as a nation that was pretty close to how the Christian God would found a nation: not one where people are forced to the faith and forced to live morally, but rather, one where people from all faiths and walks of life are welcome and treated equally. My conviction is that, of all religions in the world, the pure, unadulterated Christian faith has stood out in championing the universal equality of men and women, regardless of race, belief system, culture, or anything else, because all people are made in God's image.
America has tried to live out this heritage, and I would grade the past 200+ years as a D, or maybe a D+. I could list out the reasons, but they are too obvious. The slavery issue pretty much sealed the deal. But even so, the hallmark of freedom remains. Most Americans are no longer Christians today, and as a result, the landscape has changed. But this is all besides the point, for all of those who are lambasting single moms and broken families and blaming the culture of divorce and you name it for America's decline. The point is that the underlying DNA of freedom is still here. My belief is that that ideal of freedom (in other words, limited government) - where we can choose to believe anything, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, you name it - has descended from the heart of the Judeo-Christian faith.
One corollary, and I'll move onto final thoughts. Why is conservative political thought dying? Because by itself, it is powerless. Conservative political theory is one of non-action on part of the state. It must be bolstered by an impassioned plea for individuals, families, and communities to be agents of progress and change, or else it is a dead political philosophy. Just ask Leslie Knope what she thinks of Ron Swanson's political philosophy.
I digress. I end with an invitation for those who do not call themselves Christians to take advantage of our freedom here and continue to explore the truth. I especially invite you all to explore the Christian faith. If you come across stumbling blocks in the form of Christians who talk about people as if they are the enemy to be condemned, then I plead with you to brush them aside, and continue exploring.
My best wishes and prayers are with you all.
Yes, next question.
Yes.
My idea is that it wasn’t so much a Christian Nation as that Christianity was pretty much taken for granted by the vast majority.
I do think Christian influences were clear.
Yes, it was literally established as a Christian nation and cannot exist without that foundation.
Yup! If it was founded as a Muslim nation as Barry and his ‘RATS insist it was, we’d be whacking hands, arms and heads off of our criminals. IOW, Muslim values.
I’m not going to claim that God wrote the US Constitution. But the Hand of God clearly permeates that sacred “manual of Conservatism”, aside from the the amendments pushed through by the anti-American liberal element. The despicable William Jennings Bryan, who falsely claimed to a man of God, was among those who advocated the so-called “progressive” movement. In reality, it was regressive and set the stage for America’s move to third world status.
Funny that the word “Catholic” is not even in the article.
Time for some Viennacon analysis on this piece.
“because it is impossible to have a Christian nation in this day and age.”
What does this mean? This implies that it was possible at some earlier date, or may be possible at some future date. Clarification?
“You cannot legislate morality”
Yes.... you can. In fact, 90% of our legal system, perhaps more, is at base a legislation of morality. I have often heard it said “we have a religious police in America... they’re called the police.”
Is what you’re actually saying that only leftist morality can be legislated? If so, why?
“the harsh judgmentalism of the Religious Right”
Of course, the secular left is NEVER judgemental.
All in all, this is a deeply confused piece. Not sure what the general idea was.
The nation was founded to be deliberately un-aligned with any religious group. That is what the 1st amendment is all about.
If you want to know what kind of principles the nation was founded upon, read the Declaration of Independence. It sets forth the reasoning why we should be free. And it explicitly recognizes God the Creator.
Considering the colonies were about 95% Christian, the principles of the laws found in the Constitution of the US and of the various states were Judeo-Christian in origin.
The great awakeing occured in 1730’s in america. according to wiki which looks fairly accurate:
Additionally, pastoral styles began to change. In the late colonial period, most pastors read their sermons, which were theologically dense and advanced a particular theological argument or interpretation. The leaders of the Great Awakening, such as James Davenport, Jonathan Edwards, Gilbert Tennent and George Whitefield, had little interest in merely engaging parishioners’ intellects; rather, they sought a strong emotional response from their congregations that might yield the workings and experiential evidence of saving grace. Joseph Tracy, the minister, historian, and preacher who gave this religious phenomenon its name in his influential 1842 book The Great Awakening, saw the First Great Awakening as a precursor to the American Revolution. The evangelical movement of the 1740s played a key role in the development of democratic thought, as well as the belief of the free press and the belief that information should be shared and completely unbiased and uncontrolled. These concepts ushered in the period of the American Revolution. This contributed to create a demand for religious freedom.[5] Although the Great Awakening represented the first time African Americans embraced Christianity in large numbers, Anglican missionaries had long sought to convert blacks, again with the printed as well as the spoken word.
....I believe with all my heart that the concept of a Christian theocracy, where both Christians and non-Christians are forced by the state to live a Christian/moral life, is abhorrent to the Christian God, just as forced conversions are abhorrent to the Christian God. We get a glimpse into how God views dead surface-level legalism in how Jesus dealt with the Pharisees....
....America may not have been founded as a Christian nation, but it was founded as a nation that was pretty close to how the Christian God would found a nation: not one where people are forced to the faith and forced to live morally, but rather, one where people from all faiths and walks of life are welcome and treated equally.
So in what age was it permissable and possible to create a surface-level, legalistic, theocratic-government-forced dead moralistic Christian nation?
It would be funnier if it was!
If we pass beyond these matters to a view of American life, as expressed by its laws, its business, its customs, and its society, we find every where a clear recognition of the same truth. Among other matters, note the following: the form of oath universally prevailing, concluding with an appeal to the Almighty; the custom of opening sessions of all deliberative bodies and most conventions with prayer; the prefatory words of all wills, “In the name of God, amen;” the laws respecting the observance of the Sabbath, with the general cessation of all secular business, and the closing of courts, legislatures, and other similar public assemblies on that day; the churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet; the multitude of charitable organizations existing every where under Christian auspices; the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe. These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation. Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 U.S. 457 (1892)
Thanksgiving Proclamation
[New York, 3 October 1789]
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor— and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be— That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions— to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/GW/gw004.html
The Mayflower Compact. This is just one of many such documents establishing how this was founded as a Christian nation, but I figured it’s good to start at the beginning.
In ye name of God Amen· We whose names are vnderwriten,
the loyall subjects of our dread soueraigne Lord King James
by ye grace of God, of great Britaine, franc, & Ireland king,
defender of ye faith, &c
Haueing vndertaken, for ye glorie of God, and aduancemente
of ye christian faith and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to
plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia...
http://mayflowerhistory.com/mayflower-compact/
America’s First Mass [Ecumenical]
George Washington’s Return from Service to Mount Vernon, Christmas Eve, 1783
Remember, Remember (George Washington and Guy Fawkes Day)
A Tea Party Thomist: Charles Carroll
America’s Catholic Colony [Ecumenical]
The Catholic Church in the United States of America [Ecumenical]
Catholic Founding Fathers - The Carroll Family [Ecumenical]
Charles Carroll, founding father and "an exemplar of Catholic and republican virtue" [Ecumenical]
CITIZEN JOURNALISM: Founding Catholic [Father]
"How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization" ( Book Review )
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