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Displaying all 8 Forum Posts for the Thread:

If we're a Christian Nation, why is The Bible not in the constitution?

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2010-06-28 09:45 PM

ChristyR
Denton, TX
Posts: 254

If the founding fathers intended for America to be a Christian Nation, why is the bible not specificially mentioned in the constitution?

2010-06-30 02:21 PM

Schmidt
Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 852

ChristyR Wrote: If the founding fathers intended for America to be a Christian Nation, why is the bible not specificially mentioned in the constitution?

I think Rick Ungar of True/Slant addressed that question pretty well with his May 10, 2010 article, The Palin Principle - Bible Trumps Constitution.

He cites wrtings by Jefferson, Paine, and John Adams that pretty well debunk the notion that America was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs. The founding fathers, regardless of their personal beliefs (and yes some were devout Christians), went out of their way to ensure that the Constitution did not advocate for any religion.

Sarah Palin and others, however, would argue otherwise. Read Ungar's article. It makes good sense to me.

2010-06-30 10:31 PM

harpman316
Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 8

All Libs should be very glad christians founded the US and not Muslims. We would all be living like they do in the middle east.

2010-07-01 12:36 PM

Zach F
Denton, TX
Posts: 481

harpman316 Wrote:

All Libs should be very glad christians founded the US and not Muslims. We would all be living like they do in the middle east.

What Christians are you specifically referring to? Benjamin Franklin? Atheist. John Adams? Thomas Jefferson? They were both deists.

George Washington was an Anglican, but specifically said "In no way is the America founded on Christian beliefs." in the treaty with Tripoli.

The Christian religion was not a major influence on the founding of this nation. This nation was mostly influenced by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, major thinkers during the enlightenment.

Samuel Adams was a Puritan who pushed for more religion in government. If he had his way, American life would much more like the Puritan's. Jailed for even the slightest trespass against God. A theocracy led by clergy. People being executed for being accused of witchcraft. Because our founding fathers minimized religious influence, we are now able to live in a free society where plenty of different cultures can come together.

2010-07-02 08:11 AM

Schmidt
Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 852

harpman316 Wrote:

All Libs should be very glad christians founded the US and not Muslims. We would all be living like they do in the middle east.

I agree entirely with Zach's response. But I will add that it would have made little difference if our founding fathers were Muslim, Hindus or Christians. They went to great lengths to ensure a secular type of government, and to provide safeguards to avoid the religious persecution that many immigrants suffered in Europe.

On the subject of Islam, I should also point out that there are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world, of which some 3 million are law abiding US citizens. The stereotype of a Muslim that is portrayed by many in the ignorant mainstream media, particularly right wing media like Fox News and talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh, is of the Islamic radical or fundamentalist. But these extremists represent probably less than 0.001 percent of the Muslim population. Most Muslims that I know have accepted a modern interpretation of the Qur'an...see Islam and Modernity.

If I were to portray or stereotype Christians based on the worst interpretations of the Bible or the actions of a few Christian zealots, then I would be rightfully condemned by those Christians that have also adopted a modern perspective of their religious beliefs. Indeed, for example, how many Catholics practice birth control, but are still otherwise devout Catholics?

2010-09-25 11:22 AM

shadowrydr420
La Porte, IN
Posts: 2

Very nicely said : ) All of us know the founding fathers made sure that religion was kept out of any part of building our governing system.

Bill McKee

2010-09-25 11:22 AM

shadowrydr420
La Porte, IN
Posts: 2

you're an idiot and i can see you're not afraid to show it

2010-09-25 03:44 PM

EL PREZIDENTE KABOOM
Dallas, TX
Posts: 700

Look, Frank's a standup guy....brilliant thinker...and very, very open minded and resp[ectful of other people's beliefs. He is most certainly not an idiot.

Now, I'm sure Frank would agree with this.......Jesus, man, myth, or whatever, gave rise to the spirit of progressivism that permeates our Constitution, providing for the fundamental liberties we all enjoy today. In that sense, we are very much a Christian nation....but the idea of a Republic, actually pre-dates Christianity, as does the practice of democracy.
Ultimately, Christianity teaches that human rights matter...that every human being is special....and without a liberal assumption of individual human worth, freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.

Today, the politics of our Republican-Democracy is a reflection of the battle between Chrisitian human rights and Plato nihilism..or in bare bones terms, common decency vs. what it takes to live through the night.

We are a hybrid people...a hybrid race...and we are more than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or any part of our whole, We are America.

Displaying all 8 Forum Posts for the Thread:

If we're a Christian Nation, why is The Bible not in the constitution?

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