The myth that the USA is a Christian nation

[Anpu23]

There is a bit of revisionist history that the US is a Christian Nation, base on Christian Principles and should return to it's Christian roots.

This is both false and dangerous. First the idea that the founding fathers were devout Christians. Though there were some Christians in the founding fathers, a number of the key American Founders were neither Christians nor deists, but theistic rationalists. Who believed in a powerful, rational, and benevolent creator God who was present and active in human affairs. They believed that the main factor in serving God was living a good and moral life, that promoting morality was the central value and purpose of religion, and that religion was indispensable to society because it engendered morality. They believed that virtually all religions fulfilled that purpose – not just Christianity. That is why they allowed freedom of religion. Theistic rationalists rejected most of the fundamental doctrines of biblical Christianity, including: the deity of Christ, the Trinity, original sin, the atoning work of Christ, justification by faith, eternal punishment for sin, and the inspiration of Scripture.

Most were high ranking Masons, some may even have been members of the infamous Hell Fire Club (I'm looking at you Franklin). They were heavily influenced by such ideas as natural rights and other 18th century philosophy.

But, you say what about the "pledge of allegiance?"

Well: Congress added “Under God” to the Pledge in 1954 – during the Cold War.

Or the Star Spangled Banner that says "In God is our trust."

Well it was written in 1814 about the war of 1812 and On March 3, 1931, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution (46 Stat. 1508) making the song the official national anthem of the United States.

Our money says "In God we Trust"

Congress approved adding "In God We Trust" to the one-cent and two-cent coins on February 22, 1864. The first two-cent coin minted with "In God We Trust" was issued later that year.

Well it says God in the constitution>

Actually it doesn't. Go read it again, though God is referenced in the Declaration of Independence "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" it is again a reference to "Natures God" see my argument above about the Deist vs theistic rationalist thought. I would certainly argue that "Natures God" is not a reference directly to the Christian God, but instead to the general idea of Deus or a benevolent God as laid out in theistic rationalism.

And lastly the concept of separation of church and state. Though they didn't use the phrase "separation of church and state," the framers of the Constitution debated the extent to which the government should support religion. Some argued that it was fine to mandate participation in religious services, if a person could choose which ones they would attend. More commonly, many of the founders, including Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, argued that government compulsion of religion violated a person's natural right to shape their own life according to their convictions.

So why is it important?

Why the separation of church and state matters
The founders disagreed about the exact meaning of "no establishment" under the First Amendment, and those arguments continue today. But ultimately, preventing government from interfering with religion is an essential principle of religious liberty.

Without separating church from state, true religious freedom is impossible.

Allowing one religious group preferential access or power can lead to a polarizing and contentious environment where "We the People" applies only to those in the majority at any given moment. Government support of religion puts some people's rights and beliefs over those of others. In the worst cases, it can require everyone — believers and nonbelievers alike — to jeopardize their beliefs to get equal treatment under the law.

The idea of separation of church and state ensures the government cannot exercise undue influence over Americans' spiritual and religious lives.

So in conclusion, there is no state religion in the US, heresy and blasphemy are not crimes in the US courts. This was established in 1799. The case that established the law. As it well should be.

Do not let our freedoms pass unchallenged. Our customs and history are important to us. When challenged with the lie, push back my friends.

The great experiment of the US must continue. Don't let them take it from us.

Anpu

[strateguy632]

you are the one with TWISTING revision.

prety pathetic how far atheists will go.

you quote "God" and despite capital letters try to twist it is not god.

you lie about money by mentioning coins but hide the fact about PAPER MONEY.

in God we trust.

your lies are pathetic. why are you so desperate to lie like that?

[Anpu23]

No, The first paper money to include "In God We Trust" was printed in 1957 the word God is capitalized as is appropriate for a name. The evidence and history is clear. The Us is not a Christian nation.

[Anpu23]

Further I am not an atheist. Sorry to disappoint you. I am certainly a theist and have read most religious texts on the planet both modern and ancient. I have read the bible completely (King James version) and many parts multiple times. I have also read the apocrypha and other ancient scriptures.

[Snakeyes7]

It was a combination of contemporary philosophy and biblical teachings. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah, for example, inspired the idea of due process because God refused to destroy those cities until all of who were deemed to be free from the corruption that plagued those cities fled.

That story led to Blackstone's formulation (it is better that many of the guilty escape than to have one of the innocent punished) which was then adopted by the US Constitution.