Do You Believe The U.s. Was Founded On Christian Principles?

Discussion in 'Politics & Government' started by Lon Tanner, May 21, 2019.

  1. Lon Tanner

    Lon Tanner Supreme Member
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    I Don't -- There is overwhelming evidence that it was not and the ongoing debate between believers and non believers has had a huge impact on our present political condition.
     
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  2. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Wife and I believe, and try to live our lives in Christian principles, and that's all that matters to us.
     
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  3. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    "One nation, under God."
     
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  4. Jerry Adams

    Jerry Adams Veteran Member
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    Added Flag Day 1954
     
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  5. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
     
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  6. Jerry Adams

    Jerry Adams Veteran Member
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    @Beth Gallagher

    I'm not objecting to the phrase or challenging that the nation was founded on Christian principles. just noting that it wasn't placed in the pledge until 1954.

    No problem with the "Creator" in the declaration.
     
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  7. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    Most of the founders were of the Christian persuasion, with the exceptions of Jefferson and Franklin. Jefferson was a Deist: "I believe in one God, but I have no problem with those who believe in three." Franklin was probably an Atheist, although he noted in several of his writings the need for religion in a civilized society. The Freedom of Religion clause in the First Amendment was inserted to ensure mostly that Christians wouldn't fight among themselves or pick on Jews. I haven't seen anything that mentioned Muslims but they were certainly included. Washington told the Quakers that they were free to practice as they saw fit, but they would be required to serve in the military if their assistance were needed. He gave them a pass on the "conscientious objector" argument because of their contributions in other areas of society. Most of the Constitution was written from a Christian viewpoint, but remained neutral as to practice. The largest church in Washington D.C. was the House of Representatives chamber in the Capitol at one time, so religion was never intended to be banned from public life. That was something introduced much later at the behest of Madalyn Murray O'Hare (There are three different spellings of her name published) and her organization.
    http://www.who2.com/bio/madalyn-murray-ohair/

    The states were originally to be allowed to have their own "religion", but the Supreme Court in one of their many poorly-researched activist decisions decided that anything forbidden to Congress was also forbidden to the states.
     
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  8. Tom Galty

    Tom Galty Veteran Member
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    No think your country was founded on The Magner Carter and also English Common Law 600 years before you lot had a hissy fit.
     
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  9. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    Undoubtedly the Magna Carta was a part, but The Constitution of 1689 (English Bill of Rights) was also part of it. So were the writings of John Locke and Montesquieu. Our founders were generally very well-educated men. References are made to Aristotle, Cato, and Seneca. The Iroquois Constitution was considered as well. If George III had been circumspect, and if Pitt hadn't had a mental breakdown, things might have worked out differently...but then the world would be governed by Germany, not just Europe;).
     
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  10. Shirley Martin

    Shirley Martin Supreme Member
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    Weren't they based on some kind of Roman rules from long ago? ;):)
     
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  11. Bill Boggs

    Bill Boggs Supreme Member
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    I'm not sure what all went into the thinking of the people who wrote about our beginnings.
    A creator was mentioned, as has been pointed out, but they seemed to be educated men,
    men capable of thinking, and used to doing so. I expect lifetimes of experience and debate
    went into what they thought and wrote. So yes, I think some believed or hoped a Devine
    hand woud guide their endeavor to create a new nation and wage war against Great Briton.
    Some may have been over zealous like the puritans, some merely carried a great hope
    Providence would smile on their efforts. I suppose many believed in Devine intervention.
    Those who didn't never raised their voice against such thought or comment.
     
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  12. Lon Tanner

    Lon Tanner Supreme Member
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    And that's good for you & Mrs. Fousnaugh.
     
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  13. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    The key question as exhibited in the OP is whether or not the nation was founded as a Christian nation. No, not constitutionally.
    If the question posed was if the framework of the U.S. was based on Theocratic principles and moreover those ensampled by Judo-Christian custom, morals and ethics, yes, it was.
    Note of example: Even though it isn’t very well practiced, it’s a Biblical value to be tolerant of all faiths ergo freedom to worship as one chooses which also negates the idea of a Theocracy which only recognizes one specific religion.
    Note 2: The bulwark against gay marriage has been the edicts against it as found in Judeo-Christian scripture and custom. Is it constitutionally approached? No but was it placed into law according to Judeo-Christian moral practice? Yes.

    One of the main reasons the Supreme Court was first founded was to interpret the Constitution of the United States as it relates to the rule of law and whether those laws are inferred or directly approached. Does the Constitution infer that the U.S. is partially based on the recognition of the existence of God? Yes. But does the recognition of His existence prevent certain freedoms which might conflict with theocratic moral views? No, the Supreme Court’s edict regarding the “Church versus State” is a prime example on the ruling of a constitutional inference versus what is actually written.

    Lastly for now, although it isn’t directly mandated, our first president, George Washington gave the first oath of office with his hand placed on a 1767 King James Version of the Bible. That action, though not constitutionally relevant, set the standard by which all presidents, no matter what faith or lack of, are given the charge of office which is yet another link into the actual thought processes of our founders.
     
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    Last edited: May 22, 2019
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