Christian Nation

[Sif]

I am curious. Why do so many Christians insist the United States of America was founded on the Bible when one of the main laws of the Constitution is religious freedom? I see absolutely NOWHERE in the Bible where religious freedom is even tolerated let alone a allowed to be the law of the land.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Good point.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I am curious. Why do so many Christians insist the United States of America was founded on the Bible when one of the main laws of the Constitution is religious freedom? I see absolutely NOWHERE in the Bible where religious freedom is even tolerated let alone a allowed to be the law of the land.

Sif,

One reason may be that many Christians in the U.S. don't know how to do basic historical research and philosophical assessment. Not that they should know necessarily, because we really can't expect everyone to become intellectual clones. BUT, being that they don't, they are typically prone to ingesting whatever the predominate preaching is in our churches ... and the usual teaching is that the U.S. is, and always has been, a "Christian nation." It is this ideology that has taken on myth-like proportions among a large number of more fundamentalist-type Christians here, and it isn't too hard to imagine why since the idea of a "Christian nation" is typically used with inexact historical contexts during discussions and has some amount of inherent ambiguity and semantic flexibility (like some of the spiritual notions within Christianity itself, which is why we started with 13 colonies that each had individual views on Christianity and often castigated each other for harboring what they each saw as various theological "heresies").

Another reason may be that Christianity in general, although not 'actually' foundational to the U.S. Constitution, has been highly influential in the historical, political processes (or mindsets of U.S. politicians) that have driven this nation since before Colonial times, obviously more so early on in U.S. history than lately. So, I think many Christians get confused with the difference between "political influence" as it compares with "foundational ideology," two distinct notions that take some level of philosophical thinking to properly evaluate--which isn't easily done.

2PhiloVoid

 

[Albion]

I am curious. Why do so many Christians insist the United States of America was founded on the Bible when one of the main laws of the Constitution is religious freedom? I see absolutely NOWHERE in the Bible where religious freedom is even tolerated let alone a allowed to be the law of the land.

It was founded on the Bible to a great degree, but the article on freedom of religion had in mind different Judeo-Christian beliefs. At the time, Buddhism and Islam, for example, had virtually no presence in America and they came under this provision only as their people later emigrated to the USA.

In addition, to say that it was founded on Christian or Biblical values and, then, that it guaranteed religious freedom is to make two separate points. The one doesn't imply the same idea as the other.

 

[Sif]

Interesting information. Thank you

 

[paul1149]

The Constitution prevents Congress from enacting any law that would limit freedom of religion or establish a national church. But it doesn't touch the practice of the states in those regards. At the time of its writing, many of the states endorsed Christianity in their constitutions, or perhaps even embraced a specific denomination (not sure offhand).

That strong states' rights presence in the First Amendment points to an even deeper Constitutional connection with the Bible, concerning its teaching on the nature of man. The Bible says that man is made in God's image and therefore deserving of respect, but that he is fallen and imperfect therefore cannot be completely trusted. The Framers therefore constructed their document to comport to that dual reality by enshrining rights that protect individuals from the government and minorities from the majority, and states from the federal government. They then divided the government into branches with mutual checks and balances, and they wrote the entire document in the form of strictly enumerated powers, so that no branch or group could accumulate power to itself and oppress others.

This is all a reflection of the balanced Biblical teaching on the nature of man. The nation has never been perfect, obviously, but IMO there has not been anything of comparable size at this level of freedom and rights, with responsibility, before or since. Truly an amazing job but, as John Adams said, only a religious and moral people can support the constitutional republic, and we are in dire danger of losing it.

There's a lot more too. The first session of Congress was a hours-long prayer meeting. The first act was the Northwest Ordinance, which established frontier schools for the teaching of the Bible. Etc. John Adam's greatest mistake, IME, was to allow in the Treaty of Tripoli the statement that we are not a Christian nation, which he did to get the deal done. He wanted to end the war with the Barbary pirates, who were kidnapping, robbing and severely harassing innocent Americans on the high seas (their leader had said, "our enemies must either know how to fight well, or pay well"). This was an issue because the pirates were... Muslim.

There's a lot more information at Wallbuilders.com, though I don't agree with everything he says.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I am curious. Why do so many Christians insist the United States of America was founded on the Bible when one of the main laws of the Constitution is religious freedom? I see absolutely NOWHERE in the Bible where religious freedom is even tolerated let alone a allowed to be the law of the land.

It's a longstanding myth that tends to self-propagate because it is repeated a lot. Some of the issue goes back to disagreements among even the first generation of Americans--people like Jefferson, Madison, etc were quite emphatic that the new republic was a secular one, but not everyone wanted it that way even though that is, essentially, how it is enshrined in the Constitution.

Though I think the modern myth is more modern than that, and is largely a reactionary response to Communism/the Cold War. The Soviets were "godless" and so Americans were by contrast "god-fearing". It was in the 50's that we added "under God" to the national pledge, "In God we Trust" effectively replaced "E pluribus unum" as the nation's motto in the 1950's as well. The fear of Communism, McCarthyism, among other things pushed forward a strong link between American nationalism and Christian sentiment; a sentiment that did exist much earlier mind you, but which was made stronger during the height of the Cold War. Couple this with some unscrupulous people such as David Barton outright teaching lies and spreading falsehoods ends up with the result of painting an enormously false picture of American history.

I think it's even more complicated than that. It's largely about addressing some of deep level issues of the American national psyche: American-ness and Christian-ness are in some sense and in some cases so deeply intertwined in the American national identity (not for all, but for many) that untangling it is not only difficult and complicated, doing so can be perceived as a direct attack.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Sketcher]

While Christian philosophy and values certainly impacted the framing of the Constitution, I actually agree that this is not a "Christian nation." We don't have a state church, and we don't need one.

 

[Sif]

Thank you all for your well thought out and intelligent responses.

I realize I need to do A LOT more reading on the American Revolution and its background.

 

[Lukaris]

I know the 1776 State Constitution of my home state of Pennsylvania guaranteed freedom faith and also contained a Christian oath for members of the state legislature.

A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
I. That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, amongst which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

II. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences and understanding: And that no man ought or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any ministry, contrary to, or against, his own free will and consent: Nor can any man, who acknowledges the being of a God, be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments or peculiar mode of religious worship: And that no authority can or ought to be vested in, or assumed by any power whatever, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner controul, the right of conscience in the free exercise of religious worship.

PLAN OR FRAME OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OR STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA


SECT. 10. A quorum of the house of representatives shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of members elected; and having met and chosen their speaker, shall each of them before they proceed to business take and subscribe, as well the oath or affirmation of fidelity and allegiance hereinafter directed, as the following oath or affirmation, viz:

I do swear (or affirm) that as a member of this assembly, I will not propose or assent to any bill, vote, or resolution, which stall appear to free injurious to the people; nor do or consent to any act or thing whatever, that shall have a tendency to lessen or abridge their rights and privileges, as declared in the constitution of this state; but will in all things conduct myself as a faithful honest representative and guardian of the people, according to the best of only judgment and abilities.

And each member, before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz:

I do believe in one God, the creator and governor of the universe, the rewarder of the good and the punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine inspiration.

And no further or other religious test shall ever hereafter be required of any civil officer or magistrate in this State.

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/pa08.asp