"Was the U.S. founded on Christian principles?" ...I would answer 'no.' The nation was founded on republican principles. There is nothing in the Consitution or Declaration of Independence about ..core Christian beliefs." ~ Looking for Diogenes
I would encourage you to *carefully* read my posts here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003936/posts?page=47#47 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003936/posts?page=48#48 And you may find this of interest, too:
The SAR Magazine, Winter 2002 Vol. XCIVI, No. 3.
http://www.sar.org/sarmag/RF3.html THE RELIGIOUS FAITH OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
A Series By Jack J. Early, Ed.D., D.D., Chaplain General
James Madison, fourth President of the United States, was born into a devout home where his parents were members of the Episcopal Church in Port Conway, Virginia. He was baptized on the twentyfirst day of his life.
Madison was home schooled by his godly mother and grandmother, and a tutor who was an Episcopalian minister. His studies included Latin, Greek, arithmetic, literature and Spanish. Also, a broad and diverse reading schedule was established.
His parents were concerned about reports of the teachings at various institutions of higher learning, and they sent him to the College of New Jersey, later known as Princeton University.
While a student at Princeton, he studied for the ministry.
Here he was influenced greatly by Reverend John Witherspoon, one of the nation's leading theologians and legal scholars.
This helped to establish a theological base for Madison's thinking. During his stay at Princeton, a great revival took place, and it is believed that he partook its spirit. On his return home, it is reported that he conducted worship in his father's house.
When Madison returned to Virginia, he and his father were walking one day near a jail in the village of Orange and listened to several Baptists preach from the window of their cell. They had been confined because of their religious opinions. His heart was stirred that day, and Madison became a champion of religious freedom.
This experience moved him to go into law and politics. He became a major defender of religious liberty. Through his influence and efforts, freedom guarantees were approved in the Virginia Constitution. Later, as a member of the first Congress, Madison made religious freedom the first item in the Bill of Rights. He placed it first because he considered it of primary importance. He believed that when citizens lose their religious freedoms, all other freedoms are in jeopardy.
Madison's belief in eternal life and salvation are expressed in a personal letter to his college friend, William Bradford. Writing on November 9, 1772, Madison said: "A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves test while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven ......
Years later, Madison wrote Memorial and Remonstrance, in which he said:
"Whilst we assert for ourselves a fireedom to embrace, to profess and to observe Religion which we believe to be
of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet ' yielded to the evidence
which has convinced us. If this fireedom be abused, it is an offense against God, not against man: To God, therefore, not to man, must an account of it be rendered."
One writer summed up his comments on Madison's religious life as follows: "If Madison ever rejected the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, he never said so in writing ... he remained friendly and respectful toward Christianity and toward the Church."
Madison, who has been called "The Father of the Constitution," was clearly influenced by the Christian religion and particularly Reverend John Witherspoon's Calvinism. His views on law and government reflect his theological insights on Church and state.
As Compatriots of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, we support the United States Constitution. The challenge for us in the 21st Century is to recognize that the freedoms we enjoy include religious freedom which James Madison considered of primary importance!