- Why do the Congressional Records from June 7 to September 25, 1789, the months of discussions and debates of the ninety Founding Fathers who framed the First Amendment never mention the phrase “separation of church and state.” It seems logical that if this had been the intent for the First Amendment – as is so frequently asserted - then at least one of those ninety who framed the Amendment would have mentioned that phrase; none did. Incidentally, Jefferson was not one of the 90 framers of the 1st Amendment.
Perhaps because they felt the wording was easily understandable.
- Why did the Constitutional Congress appoint chaplains for each house of Congress?
Let me again point out this quote;
Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U S forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them, and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does this not involve the principle of a national establishment...?
— James Madison, “Essay on Monopolies” unpublished until 1946
So James Madison did not believe that a congressional chaplain was constitutional by a strict interpretation of the 1st Amendment. However, he voted for it anyways. When you have a population where 90%+ is some type of protestant Christianity then there will be nobody to complain and bring a case to the supreme court.
- Why did the Constitutional Congress, and every Congress since, open with prayer?
See above.
- Why did Ben Franklin, during a particularly contentious debate, recommended that they stop and pray before proceeding?
He did propose this. However only 3 or 4 other people at the convention thought it was a good idea and it was never implemented.
- Why was the Capitol used for church services before it was occupied by Congress?
It was a public building and I would think that anyone who wanted to use it would be allowed to.
- Why did both houses of Congress approve the use of the Capitol for church services ... in 1800?
See above
- Why are there so many references to Christianity (quotes, pictures, and even the Ten Commandments) throughout government buildings in D.C.?
I am not sure what you are referring to here. I have been to D.C. and have not seen references to Christianity throughout government buildings. Perhaps you are referring to the supreme court building and the sculpture called “Justice the Guardian of Liberty” by Herman A. McNeil. Here is the description of that sculpture from the Smithsonian website:
Relief figures on the pediment illustrate the contributions of Eastern and Mediterranean civilizations to the development of the law. In the center is a seated figure of Moses, with the tablets of Hebraic law held in each hand. To the left is a standing figure of Confucius, the great lawgiver of China; on the other side is a standing figure of Solon, master codifier of Greek law. On the left of the central grouping there is a kneeling man holding a child with his proper right hand and the Roman symbol of authority, fasces, over his proper left shoulder. He symbolizes the means of enforcing the law. On the right of the central grouping there is a kneeling woman also holding a child and fasces. She symbolizes the tempering justice with mercy. Soldiers carrying shields flank these two figures. The soldier on the left represents the settlement of disputes between states through enlightened judgment while the soldier on the right represents the protection of maritime and other rights by the Supreme Court. The soldiers are flanked by reclining figures. On the left, a reclining woman represents the study and pondering of judgment, and right, a reclining man illustrates the high character of the Supreme Court. In the corner of the left side of the pediment is a hare and in the corner of the right side is a tortoise. They symbolize the slow but sure course of Justice.
- Why does the Declaration of Independence reference the “Creator” as the source of our unalienable rights?
The founding fathers were heavily influenced by the enlightenment ideas of the time. This was a common phrase used by enlightenment thinkers and deist of the time who did not believe in a personal god. It was also a term that Christians of the time would accept.
- Why did Congress authorize and fund the printing of Bibles in 1782?
I am not aware of this action by congress. Could you please give me a source so that I can look into it further.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the liberals are completely wrong when they say that this county was not founded on judeo-christian ideals. I also think that religious conservatives are wrong when they say it was only founded on judeo-christian ideals. From my study of this country the most accurate statement would be that this country was founded on Greco-roman, English common law, judeo-christian, and enlightenment ideals in more or less the same proportions.
Now I have some questions for you. If the founding fathers wanted protestant Christianity to be the official religion why did they not say so in the constitution or the bill of rights? Why did they specifically saw that there would be no religious test for public office?
Why in the treaty of Tripoli, which was ratified by the senate and signed by John Adams, state;
As the Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the law, religion or tranquility of Musselmen; and as the states never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mohometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever produce an interruption of harmony existing between the two countries.
The Journal of the Senate, including The Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate, John Adams Administration, 1797-1801, Volume 1: Fifth Congress, First Session; March-July, 1797. Edited by Martin P. Claussen. Wilmington, Delaware: Michael Glazier, Inc., 1977.
This treaty was read in the senate and passed without one dissenting vote. It was then published in three major newspapers of the day and there was no public outcry by anyone.
Now I have no idea how the supreme court in the early days of our republic would have decided if a school prayer case had come before them. However the supreme court has been fairly consistent on this issue. On a side note I have enjoyed this intellectual debate with you.
Perhaps because they felt the wording was easily understandable.
Pure supposition on your part. The fact is that the Founders did not want a repeat of England - they did not want a national religion, but they did want the freedom to practice whatever form of Christianity they chose, thus the words ". . . shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
- Why are there so many references to Christianity (quotes, pictures, and even the Ten Commandments) throughout government buildings in D.C.?
I am not sure what you are referring to here. I have been to D.C. and have not seen references to Christianity throughout government buildings. Perhaps you are referring to the supreme court building and the sculpture called “Justice the Guardian of Liberty” by Herman A. McNeil.
I, too, have been to D.C. several times and noticed many others, including:
The Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each of the two huge wooden doors as you enter the Supreme Court.
The Ten Commandments on the wall right above where the Supreme Court judges sit.
Some would argue that the symbols of the Ten Commandments around and in the Supreme court are something else, but that is mere speculation and wishful supposition, with no basis in fact.
Along the stairway to the top of the washington Monument are 190 carved quotations from Scripture -- "Holiness to the Lord" (Exodus 28), "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39), "The memory of the just is blessed" (Proverbs 10:7) -- and such invocations as, "May Heaven to this Union continue its Benefice."
Although I didn't see either with my own eyes, I understood from our guide and from other sources that:
- The cornerstone of the Washington Monument contains many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society.
- The words Laus Deo (or "Praise be to God") are etched on the aluminum cap atop the Washington Monument.
On the 140-foot landing of the Washington Monument, a memorial stone is inscribed with the following prayer: "May Heaven to this union continue its beneficence; may brotherly affection with union be perpetual; may the free constitution which is the work of our ancestors be sacredly maintained and its administration be stamped with wisdom and with virtue."
On the 260-foot landing of the Washington Monument stones quote Proverbs 10:7, Proverb 22:6, and Luke 17:6.
The prayers that the "mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away" and that "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." are carved in granite inside the Licoln Memorial.
- Why did Congress authorize and fund the printing of Bibles in 1782? I am not aware of this action by congress. Could you please give me a source so that I can look into it further.
On January 21, 1781, Robert Aitken petitioned the Unites States Congress to authorize, and if possible even fund, the printing of a complete Bible in the English language of the King James Version. On September 10, 1782, Aitken received authorization from the United States Congress to commence his American printing of the Bible in English.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the liberals are completely wrong when they say that this county was not founded on judeo-christian ideals. I also think that religious conservatives are wrong when they say it was only founded on judeo-christian ideals. From my study of this country the most accurate statement would be that this country was founded on Greco-roman, English common law, judeo-christian, and enlightenment ideals in more or less the same proportions.
Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established orthodox churches in the colonies, and many of them were theologians.
James Madison made the following statement "We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
Patrick Henry said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians...not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ".
The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." John Jay in a private letter to Jedidiah Morse in 1797.
The is so much more evidence that our country was founded on Christian principles (recognizing that there were other influences), by Christian men (none of them perfect).
Now I have some questions for you. If the founding fathers wanted protestant Christianity to be the official religion why did they not say so in the constitution or the bill of rights? Why did they specifically saw that there would be no religious test for public office?
At the time, Christianity was basically the only "religion", although there were different denominations - the intention was that all would be free to practice, but no single one would be the "state" religion.
Why in the treaty of Tripoli, which was ratified by the senate and signed by John Adams, state; As the Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the law, religion or tranquility of Musselmen; and as the states never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mohometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever produce an interruption of harmony existing between the two countries.
See other quotes above, as well as other quotes by Adams - you can't rely on just one quote from one person.
In summary, if the original intent by the Founders was to exclude all forms of religious symbolism and expression from government, as is the case today, they would not have allowed such in Washington. Furthermore, excluding all forms of religious expression from our government is in fact promoting a state religion - that of secular humanism. I believe the results of our expulsion of God from our government are unmistakable - exponential increases in crime rates, drug usage, teen pregnancy, lower SAT scores, etc., etc.
The liberals want to impose "separation of church and state" on us like is explicit in the former Soviet Union, whose constitution says: "In order to ensure to citizens freedom of conscience, the church in the U.S.S.R. is separated from the State, and the school from the church. Freedom of religious worship and freedom of antireligious propaganda is recognized for all citizens" (Article 124). Article Twelve of the 1918 Soviet Constitution decrees that no church or religious organization "shall enjoy the rights of judicial person." Instruction of children under age 18 in religious matters, whether in public or private, is against the law. The problem is that neither our Constitution or Bill of Rights say that.