Replies

"And how about a quote from a document with actual legal standing:"

I think you are grasping at straws. What else would you say to Mussulmen at that time? This is not an organic, foundational document for the US. It is just a treaty for appeasing Mussulmen.

It looks like you took this out of context to serve your own slant. You conveniently did not highlight the qualifying part of the whole sentence: "as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen...". Clearly what this means is that the US is not founded as a Christian theocracy which would discriminate against other religions.

Now, what do you think about the following ORGANIC law? The government is supposed to encourage religion, not separate from it!

The Northwest Ordinance, one of the four organic (foundational) laws of the United States, passed in 1789 declared: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."

John Adams also signed the Massachusetts Constitution which says 'Article I. Any person chosen governor, lieutenant governor, councillor, 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 seised 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."'

Thomas Jefferson said: "The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of mankind." -- The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Albert Bergh, editor (Washington, D. C.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Assoc., 1904), Vol. XV, p. 383.

Does that sound like a radical deist?

Again, I think you are grasping a straws.