These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Sunday, December 04, 2011

What do you think?

Let me say right off the bat that this is going to be a controversial post. The controversy is not in what I say but in the topic. Also be advised that I am not going to respond to comments, however, I will delete any comments that are nasty-natured or hateful. Please don't make me have to do this; keep it civil. The post is to invite thinking and discussion; I'll even tolerate debate, as long as it is not personal or venomous. I will not take sides, although I think this is an interesting concept and most assuredly have my own opinion, open to being convinced, if you think you can!  Here goes ....


The question ....

Was The United States of America founded as a Christian nation?


Many think so, citing such ideas as that the pilgrims were Christians looking for safety to worship without religious persecution. Remember that the pilgrims arrived on these shores in the early 1600's (the "official" date is 1620); the split with England, the Revolution and the founding of the US were farther down the road, culminating a century and a half later (1775-1783). We all know how things can change .... think of our country in 185 and now; many changes.

The "Founding Fathers" were of diverse backgrounds and spiritual beliefs. They were Christians of many denominations, deists, atheists, agnostics and Unitarians. Look these up and consider the wide variety of those beliefs. It is important to understand the combined backgrounds of the Founding Fathers before making blanket statements about who they were and what they believed.

I'll say no more now. Please read the links below. I selected some on each side of the argument and at least one that is relatively neutral. If I did not get a balance, please forgive, but this was just a ten minute exercise in research. You can also select your own by googling "Were the Founding Fathers Christians?" or a similar phrase.


http://www.theology.edu/journal/volume2/ushistor.htm

http://nobeliefs.com/Tripoli.htm

http://www.jameswatkins.com/foundingfathers.htm

http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html

http://www.afn.org/~govern/Christian_Nation.html

http://freethoughtpedia.com/wiki/Was_the_United_States_founded_on_Christianity%3F#The_Underlying_Question


Once you've read some of these sources, feel free to come back and comment. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

My thought, and the last one I will offer is this: There is no really clear answer. We must be careful in "quoting" things we've heard; sometimes those words are simply the thoughts of a another person, sometimes a uninformed one.

5 comments:

  1. I believe the separation of church and State means that Government (The Country) and personal beliefs are separate. Citizens of the US have the right to believe, or not, in any religion as long as that religion does not break the laws of the country.

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  2. I believe it was founded on religious freedom. Whatever and all religions that happens to be.

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  3. I really question if the US was founded as a Christian nation. How many Quakers were hung/jailed, etc because of their religion? How many of the native american peoples were killed just because they were different? In my opinion,that is not Christian.

    Yes, some of the people who came here came for religious reasons,but if you were not of their faith,you were condemned.

    Just because you profess to be a Christian, it doesn't mean you really are.

    Judy

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  4. Your question really shouldn't be controversial. The religious right folks are trying to convince people that we are a Christian nation. If they believe that they are ignoring history.

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  5. Well, religious freedom is one of the freedoms which motivated the beginnings of the United States. But, I think it was the lack of freedom that motivated the fight not the religion. (mostly because i don't think humans are really fighting about religion when they fight, that is just an issue that represents power and control over one's own destiny or power and control over wealth and resources.)


    Religious freedom, to me, actually means, freedom of thought and practice. We are all free to believe and practice or not believe and not practice any religion we want. As a nation we can't favor a religion but as individuals each of us can favor whatever idea we like best.

    ReplyDelete

If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!