It is silly and absurd to suggest that America is a “Christian nation,” or was founded on “Biblical principles.” Those who are bold enough to make such a claim will inevitably encounter one nagging quandary invalidating their position–historical facts.
History tells us that England’s first colonialists came to America for trade, not to escape religious persecution or to conceive a religious nation. Only 5% of the population attended religious services in the early decades of our colonial history, and of our first six presidents, none were Christian. (1,2) Many of our founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, Ethan Allen, and Benjamin Franklin were Deists, and believed that God was not involved in human affairs. These men opposed Christian dogma, disbelieving the virgin birth, divinity and resurrection of Jesus, efficacy of prayer, miracles of the Bible, and the divine inspiration of the Bible. (3)
Washington stated in the Treaty with Tripoli, “the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.” (4) The author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, said “Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.” (5) James Madison maintained Christianity was guilty of “pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.” (6)
Thomas Paine, “the Father of the American Revolution” shared these views and dispatched heaps of criticism on Christianity in his book Age of Reason. While Christianity did experience growth in the centuries that followed America’s conception, the percentage of Americans who now attend any religious service once a week lingers around 20%, the lowest in decades. (7)
If any of the founding Fathers intended to form a Christian nation, they had their chance to make this clear in the Constitution. However, this document contains no references to Jesus, the Bible, God, or Christianity.(8) America is not a Christian nation. We are a secular nation. We are a free nation. Our Founders wanted it that way, and it is exciting to see their spirit still alive in the 9th circuit court of appeals.
(1) http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm
(2) The Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1968, p. 420
(3) http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/farrell_till/myth.html
(4) 420Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States, ed. Hunter Miller, Vol. 2, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1931, p. 365).
(5) --Thomas Jefferson, Six Historic Americans by John E. Remsberg
(6) James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance, 2000 Years of Disbelief by James A. Haught
(7) http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm
(8) The Myth of Christian America; What you need to know about Separation of Church and State, Mark Weldon Whitten
History tells us that England’s first colonialists came to America for trade, not to escape religious persecution or to conceive a religious nation. Only 5% of the population attended religious services in the early decades of our colonial history, and of our first six presidents, none were Christian. (1,2) Many of our founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, Ethan Allen, and Benjamin Franklin were Deists, and believed that God was not involved in human affairs. These men opposed Christian dogma, disbelieving the virgin birth, divinity and resurrection of Jesus, efficacy of prayer, miracles of the Bible, and the divine inspiration of the Bible. (3)
Washington stated in the Treaty with Tripoli, “the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.” (4) The author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, said “Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.” (5) James Madison maintained Christianity was guilty of “pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.” (6)
Thomas Paine, “the Father of the American Revolution” shared these views and dispatched heaps of criticism on Christianity in his book Age of Reason. While Christianity did experience growth in the centuries that followed America’s conception, the percentage of Americans who now attend any religious service once a week lingers around 20%, the lowest in decades. (7)
If any of the founding Fathers intended to form a Christian nation, they had their chance to make this clear in the Constitution. However, this document contains no references to Jesus, the Bible, God, or Christianity.(8) America is not a Christian nation. We are a secular nation. We are a free nation. Our Founders wanted it that way, and it is exciting to see their spirit still alive in the 9th circuit court of appeals.
(1) http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm
(2) The Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1968, p. 420
(3) http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/farrell_till/myth.html
(4) 420Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States, ed. Hunter Miller, Vol. 2, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1931, p. 365).
(5) --Thomas Jefferson, Six Historic Americans by John E. Remsberg
(6) James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance, 2000 Years of Disbelief by James A. Haught
(7) http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm
(8) The Myth of Christian America; What you need to know about Separation of Church and State, Mark Weldon Whitten