Yes! The United States IS a Christian Nation

I can still remember the day I heard Barack Obama say: "one of the great strengths of the United States” is that it does not consider itself “a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."  I was walking through my den and stopped dead in my tracks, thinking "surely, he didn't just say what I thought he said."  But he did say it.  He said it in Turkey, a Muslim country, and by doing so, he has given validity and acceptance to that concept among non-Christians in the United States.  With the advent of political correctness, suddenly everyone is "sensitive," offended, demanding, and they all have a lawyer at their side.  What gives?

As we approach Christianity's Holiest Season, we are now confronted with all sorts of ridiculous protests by non-Christians. There are demands to ban Christmas symbols from places where they are traditionally displayed.  Schools, public parks, government buildings, offices, department stores, etc. have always decorated for the holidays.  Most recently the Christmas tree has come under attack.  The word Christmas,  is now banished and replaced by Holiday.  That is too ridiculous for words.  Who else would buy a Christmas tree but a Christian?   Who made the candy cane a Christian symbol? Why the sudden angst about Christmas? Americans have always celebrated Christmas. It never offended anyone before.

Let us just examine a bit of the history of the Founding Fathers just out of curiosity, to see if they considered that they were establishing a Christian nation.  Obama states that we are not a Christian nation.  We are well aware of his globe trotting past with his mother, life and schooling in Muslim countries, his conversion to Christianity by his spiritual mentor steeped in Black Liberation Theology.  Perhaps if Mr. Obama had lived in this country as long as most of us have, he'd know that we don't, nay,  we can not agree with his statement.  In fact, we find it offensive, as offensive as his attempt to diminish our faith and traditions.  It is also the faith of those who fought for the right to establish these United States of America, and who with God's guidance were led to establish a nation based on the principles in which they believed.  In their own words, former presidents expressed their Christian beliefs. 

The following article is from The American Policy Roundtable

Was America founded on Christian principles?

If you don't know where you've come from, it's pretty hard to determine where you're going.

The history of America is an awesome drama. Our nation is no accident. For hundreds of years, the dream of liberty was carried across European history to be birthed on these shores, and biblical truth, biblical thinking, played a pivotal role in the birthing of America.

But was America founded on Christian principles? Just read the first words of the Declaration of Independence:

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.

From the beginning, America's founders accepted the reality that basic rights were inseparable from human beings and they recognized that those inalienable rights were not given by government nor acquired by force, but that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the gifts of the Creator.

In 1844, the Court said, "Christianity is part of our common law."

In 1892, the Supreme Court said this: "No purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or national because this is a religious people. This is historically true."

In 1930, the U.S. Supreme Court said this: "We are a Christian people, according to our motto."

In 1952, the U.S. Supreme Court said, "We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.

The question isn't - Was America founded on Christian principles? The question is - what world view has given birth to and sustained America? The answer to that question is simple: Christianity.

Our founding fathers were men steeped in Judeo-Christian beliefs and many were Christians belonging to various denominations.  Fortunately for us their archived words still exist as proof.  One example is Thomas Jefferson.  As a Texan, I wondered why Thomas Jefferson was being taken out of prominence in the history books.  As I read his words, I wonder if his Christian faith hasn't influenced the decision of those interested in rewriting history.

Read the words of some of our earlier presidents, those involved in founding this great nation and decide for yourself.

Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States of America from 1801-1809.

 "God who gave us life gave us liberty.  And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?  - Thomas Jefferson, 1781

“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus....I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus."-Thomas Jefferson


Then there was James Madison who served our country from 1809-1817.

“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” 1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia


The second President of the United States was John Adams, who's tenure lasted from 1797-1801.  A deeply religious man he believed that the founders were guided by principles of Christianity.

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . . . the general principles of Christianity. . . . I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature. (taken from a letter to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813)
http://www.aproundtable.org/issues.cfm?issuecode=history
"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were.... the general principles of Christianity." President John Quincy Adams


"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: 'It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." President Adams, July 4, 1821



Anyone with the interest and the will can, as we did, research the quotations of the early American presidents, and see for him/herself how reliant they were on their Christian faith.  Were there those who did not believe as they did?  Most likely so.  But America was a young nation then and the diversity of the immigrants was not as varied as it is today.  Yet those Christian men of faith and tolerance had the vision to guarantee in the Constitution of the United States, liberties that still apply today.  They had the foresight to guarantee those who would arrive to these shores centuries later, the same rights that were applicable to those who wrote it and established it. They did so by writing the Constituion and then, seeing the need, amending it.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States has always made us very proud to be Americans.  That short paragraph embodies rights and privileges that very few nations of the world have.  Because of that short paragraph we were raised to be respectful, and in some cases tolerant is the only word that applies, of others opinions and beliefs.  We believe in those wise words.  But we expect those who will quote those words to us, to respect our rights and liberties which those words protect.  They were after all written by Christians.

We allow others to practice their beliefs freely, and as a majority, we expect the same courtesy.  We're tired of political correctness.  In fact, we're done with it.  Merchants who are not Christians profit from our traditions to decorate, eat and give gifts.  Well, be on notice, if employees are not allowed to wish us a Merry Christmas, we won't patronize your business.  There is no such thing as a holiday tree, so don't bother trying to sell us one.  There is nothing to fear from a Christmas tree or Santa Claus, so don't feel threatened.  Your holidays don't affect us.  Let us celebrate ours with the joy and the peace that fills our hearts at this time of the year.

In fact  contrary to what Mr. Obama told the Turks, we ARE a Christian nation, and we've been graceful, and polite enough to allow others who don't share our faith to  make this their home as well.  A home where their traditions and beliefs can be practiced without fear of persecution.  We will not accept others trying to change our traditional ways or to impose new ways on us. 

During his first Inaugural address  George Washington said these memorable words:

"No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency...We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven cannot be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained." -- George Washington in his Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789

Amen!



Resources:


http://www.aproundtable.org/tps30info/beliefs.html
Copyright © 1999 - 2002 Errant Skeptics Research Institute - Copyright © 1999 - 2002 Errant Skeptics Research Institutehttp://www.errantskeptics.org/Quotes_by_Presidents.htm
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am1