So many have told me over the years the embellished stories and lies about the founding of this country on Christianity. Turns out none of it is true. This is a paper that I wrote for a class to clarify the issue and dispel myths.
This country is a Christian Nation and we should never forsake our heritage. In 1892, Justice David Brewer, writing for the majority in the case of the Church of the Holy Trinity vs. the United States, said this: "This is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation ... We find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth ... These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation.” Some have even lobbied for a clause to be added to the Constitution to acknowledge God, even going so far as to say that we should contact our legislatures to encourage them to add a clause to acknowledge the phrase, “One Nation Under God” (2002). While some say that this is a Christian nation; this should not be mandated since the US is not founded on any religion.
First off, this country was not founded on any religion according to the Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11 (Gould2001-2005). The Treaty Of Tripoli reads, [sic] “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries (Gould2001-2005).” Article 11 is very clear that there is no religion condoned or prohibited so long as it does not “produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” We shall not endorse or prohibit any religion as long as it does not inflict harm on another’s property or person. Most of the founding fathers were either Deists or Freemasons. Some were not religious at all. Historian Robert T Handy estimates that maybe 10 % or less claimed Christianity as their religion (Walker 2008). Jim Walker said, [sic] “The Constitution reflects our founders views of a secular government, protecting the freedom of any belief or unbelief (2008).” The freedom to believe anything or not believe anything is our constitutionally protected right. This is a very emphatic statement that a state sponsored church or religion is never an option.
Mandating a particular view of God could be problematic since this nation is not founded on Christianity or any other religion. The founding fathers were against a state sponsored Church; they founded this country on no religion. The founding fathers were of no particular religion and were Masons; Masons believed in everyone’s right to worship their own way. (Walker, 2008). Much of the myth of Washington's alleged Christianity came from Mason Weems influential book, "Life of Washington." The story of the cherry tree comes from this book and it has no historical basis. Weems, a Christian minister portrayed Washington as a devout Christian, yet Washington's own diaries show that he rarely attended Church” (Walker, 2008). Washington became a Mason at Fredericksburg Lodge on November 4, 1752, and in 1799 became a Master Mason and remained a freemason until he died (Walker, 2008). Even Jefferson was not a Christian. He indicated this in his letter to Peter Carr, 10 August 1787 where he questioned the existence of any God. One’s faith in God is always a matter of personal belief and testimony of those truths. One can never be forced to believe. They can be forced to go through the motions, but this is never genuine.
James Madison made some very profound statements. He is often called the father of the Constitution. “He wrote in his Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments: "During almost [sic] fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."
"What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not (Walker, 2008)." If an established ecclesiastical authority has not guarded the civil rights of the people and has been tyrannical, than separation of church and state is not an atheistic approach to destroy Christianity, but rather a way to let both exist without the destruction of one or the other.
Religion is never to be used as a form of dissension or oppression, but to bring peace. Even Benjamin Franklin condemned persecution of others for their beliefs since this was a repeat pattern throughout history that one condemned and did to others (Walker, 2008).
One of the most convincing proofs is the first amendment, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” There is no establishment. Freedom or religion is the right and freedom of the individuals to determine their own beliefs. This also means that congress shall not prevent the free exercise by individuals as well as not condone one religious sect or another. All are equal to practice according to the dictates of their own conscience and to live in harmony. To propagate that religion should be banned is the same thing as saying believe this religion since their belief system is to believe nothing. Any forced belief system is a form of oppression and dissension. All should be allowed to live in peace and believe according to the dictates of their own conscience. The first amendment implies both freedom of religion and separation of church and state (Walker, 2008). James Madison made a very profound statement in his letter to Edward Livingston, 10 July 1822: "And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Govt. will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together." (Walker, 2008)
As the treaty of Tripoli says, “…as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity…, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries (Gould2001-2005).” Hence the right to believe is a right to never be taken away just like the right to not believe is a right to not be taken away. If no one is causing harm by what one chooses to believe that is the prerogative of that individual without being force fed. May we live in harmony and believe according to the dictates of our own conscience.
Taken from http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4484/dobson.htm Was America a Christian Nation? © 1996 Dr. James Dobson President, Focus on the Family Church of the Holy Trinity vs. the United States, Original Document 1430 U.S. 457 or 465-471 (1892) Retrieved 10/17/2008
Acknowledge God America. (2002) Retrieved September 28, 2008, from http://www.acknowledgegodamerica.com/
Unofficial Stephen Jay Gould Archive. (2001-2005) Treaty of Tripoli, Retrieved September 28, 2008, from http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html
Walker J. (2008) Archiving Early America Little-Known U.S. Document Signed by President Adams Proclaims America's Government Is Secular, Retrieved September 28, 2008, from http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/summer97/secular.html
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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