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To: jackv

The argument (at least the smart argument) isn't that all the founders were not Christians - that is clearly not correct but that there were many founders who did not want a Christian government for various reasons including not being Christians and/or fearing the results of a theocracy.


What we can say is that they were accepting of public expressions of faith and thus the banning of Christmas trees or voluntary prayer is not justified.


248 posted on 05/10/2006 11:27:11 AM PDT by gondramB (He who angers you, in part, controls you. But he may not enjoy what the rest of you does about it.)
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To: gondramB
but that there were many founders who did not want a Christian government for various reasons including not being Christians and/or fearing the results of a theocracy.

Virtually every original state required its representatives to take a Christian oath.

292 posted on 05/10/2006 2:36:46 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: gondramB

Massachusetts Constitution

Chapter VI. Oaths and Subscriptions; Incompatibility of and Exclusion from Offices; Pecuniary Qualifications; Commissions; Writs; Confirmation of Laws; Habeas Corpus; The Enacting Style; Continuance of Officers; Provision for a future Revisal of the Constitution, etc.

Art I.--Any person chosen Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Counsellor, Senator, or Representative, and accepting the trust, shall, before he proceed to execute the duties of his place or office, make and subscribe the following declaration, viz.--

"I, A. B. do declare, that I believe the christian religion, and have a firm persuasion of its truth; and that I am seized and possessed, in my own right, of the property required by the Constitution as one qualification for the office or place to which I am elected."


293 posted on 05/10/2006 2:42:37 PM PDT by Raycpa
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