[StBernard] "We are no longer a Christian nation"

[Westley Annis]

WT,

You are histoically incorrect.  Our founding fathers did in fact fight to
forge a "Christian" based nation and government.  Though history and
developments have changed in this country over the past two centuries, that
doesn't change the fact that what our fathers called "religious freedom"
only meant tolerance of the various sects of Christianity and non-Christian
religions, primarily Judism. But make no mistake it was Christianity they
used as the foundation for the Declaration of Independence and Bill of
Rights. 

In colonial America, you were either a Christian, a Jew or godless - there
were no other categories.  Things were seen very simply back then.  The
notion "they fought for a nation with RELIGIOUS FREEDOM- all religions" is a
contemporary belief, not what was believed back then.  It's sort of like the
modern day belief that the first amendment states something about a
"separation of church and State."  Again, that's a contemporary belief
expressed only by those seeking to interpret the First Amendment in such a
way to suit their own personal belief.  Sure, it's okay to see the first
amendment that way today, if you like, but that's not how our founding
fathers saw it back in 1787 when they convenied at the Constitutional
Convention.

Just watching the HBO series John Adams supports the historical correction
of what I'm saying.  In all the references to "God," meaning a Christian
God, was the basis of our founding fathers beliefs and the action they took
against ole King George.

John



 

-----Original Message-----
LP,


   You're wrong wrong wrong. Our forefathers didn't fight for a Christian
nation, they fought for a nation with RELIGIOUS FREEDOM- all religions. With
SPain being invaded by the Moors (and I may be rusty on this time but it was
around here) the 14th century, Spain was exposed to the muslim religion and
had people practicing. With trade routes being explored to the orient (Marco
Polo), people were well aware of buddist religions. The world was smaller
than it is today but it was not closed off. PLease remeber America is only
about 500 years old compared to the orient, Africa, etc, which are thousands
of years old.  Many of our forefathers were educated but they were educated
in law, science, etc., not in cultural studies. SO while they were aware of
these "religions" enough to say freedom of religion, they didn't spell each
out in a way to make sure that everyone got the point. You would also want
to remeber that they were purtains which would mean you are not a llowed to
have an opinion and the family horse has more value than you, but we don't
believe those things- blacks were only 3/5 of a person, and woman had no
rights.

WT