Comments about ‘U.S. Christian nation’

Gibbs says: "The fathers of our country openly confessed their Christianity."
Ben Franklin said, "I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
Ben Franklin was one of the fathers of our country.
Thomas Jefferson was a founding father, he said, "The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine."
Thomas Paine, a founding father said, "Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities."
You were saying Gibbs?

From the Treaty of Tripoli, signed by John Adams and Congress in 1797:

"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;"

Many of the founding fathers were Deists, not Christians.

I'm a bit offended at this.

I'm a Jew. I'm an American. Our founding fathers created this nation not for the benefit of one particular faith, and not to the exclusion of others. This is not a Christian nation. This is a nation for all, founded on the principle that it must be for all.

Men like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton may have been Christian, but they were also humanists, who believed that, though God guided their futures, men were in charge of their destinies. They believed in a nation free of the control of a single religion.

I belive in an America with rules and laws and benefits for all. I believe in an America as a country that grows with new ideas. I believe in an America that works because it accepts and is open to many of the poor huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.

It's a shame others think it's a Christian-only club that should close its doors to the rest of the world. . .and to its own future.

I come from a family that is socialist.

My grandfather, who served in the military twice, fought for this country. . .along with others in my family. My grandfather fought for the ideals of this nation. . .ideals that included benefiting from a nation that was open to his faith, not just Christianity. . but all forms of religion.

He fought against a nation that wasn't open to those sort of freedoms.

I'm offended because the writer has no idea socialists like my grandfather defended this nation against the same kind of people he wants controlling this country.

Are all Mormons like this? Or just the crazy few?

Let's all forget the past about what our heritage fought for. Why do you think they came to America???

According to Obama, we're a country of "CITIZENS" and "ARROGANT TO BOOT". I think we all know who the "IGNORANT" one is.....he's sitting in the White House with all of his puppets.

Ever wonder just how "CHRISTIAN" Harry Reid really is??? Wasn't it just months ago Harry Reid asked the people of Utah why they don't "THINK" like him?????

Hello Harry........do you have any brains???? I say not!!!!

Wow. So many things to address...
I'm a practicing Christian. But you might want to examine the belief systems of people like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin more closely. They were Deists, not Christians.
Remarkably, it has been the liberals (who many may call Socialists), including the liberals on the Supreme Court, who have rigorously supported the freedom of individual religious expression, while the conservatives on the Court have restricted it. I'll side with those who truly give weight to the religion clause in the First Amendment over those who think it's insignificant and not as important as the other rights in the First Amendment.

Well said Byron.

To be correct you should have said we are a nation of christians. Even then that would be hard to stand up . in accuality we are a nation of many Jews, Christians, Buddists,Muslims, Atheists and some to small to mention. And we try to make a go of treating all equally. To do any other would do a disservice to all.

If Christians would practice what they preach and not fall into lock-step behind sociopaths like George Bush, and other "Christian" miscreants like Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck, (oh, and let's not forget Orrin Hatch) you all might be a teensy bit more believable. As it is, you all helped me embrace Atheism, as a real God wouldn't subject all of humanity to the likes of YOUR heroes.

Mr. Gibbs, what does it mean to vote as Christians? I remind you that the Constitution doesn't impose any religious tests for public office. The reason is Deists and Religionists clashed over the role of religion in the new government and the Deists won out. They effectively removed a time-honored practice of requiring only Christians for public office. They realized the role that religion would play in the new republic, but they thought they could best protect it if they removed the influence from government.

Some of the Founding Fathers were Christian--John Jay, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry--while others were firmly Deists--Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin. Let's not pretend they were all one or the other. They were as different in their political and religious sentiments as we our today.

. . . what version of Christianity you want to impose on the country. How many of my rights would you want to trample on so that your theocratic world view could become the law of the land, especially if it was in conflict with my beliefs and religion. I have no interest in living under the Christian version of the Taliban.

Well said!

Historically Christians were once one of those most persecuted by the intolerance of other people, religions and governments. The emigration by my ancestors to the North American continent was stimulated by their desire to escape a State religion and to have the freedom to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.
Due to the founding fathers history and desire the First Amendment includes the phrase: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." (Thus by definition we are a secular nation of no specific religion.) As a follower of Jesus I am called to practice tolerance of those who do not believe as I do; to ensure that they are also treated fairly and with respect under the law; and to extend, in my interactions with believers and non-believers alike, the grace and unconditional love that has been extended to me through Christ. It seems that the best way for any of us to preserve our rights is to protect the right of all people to worship or not worship as they see fit. That was, after all, the actual intent after all of our Nation's founders.

Some very odd views if you dissect this letter. What does separation of church and state mean? Is the government obligated to protect minorities, including religious minorities? Is Christianity supposed to be the state religion, and whose brand of Christianity? As you contemplate these principles and more, think carefully, especially my fellow Mormons who could have used some help over the past 150+ years. Any religion that is given general authority over society will lead to a situation such as the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages or the Taliban today - the denial of freedoms and rights which deviate from the official church line. Religion is, ultimately, a personal thing, between you and God, and the only thing you should control is your actions and beliefs, and not the actions and beliefs of others. If we all lived that way, our society would in fact be better. Government should not dictate our religious beliefs, sorry.

The principle founders were not Christians. Below are some quotes from our key founders:

"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced an inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth." - Thomas Jefferson

"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved-- the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!" - John Adam's letter to Thomas Jefferson

"The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find a precept for Creeds, Confessions, Oaths, Doctrines, and whole cartloads of other foolish trumpery that we find in Christianity." - John Adams

"As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed" -JM

We are a christian nation. But my god can beat up your god.

I provided the above quotes. If anyone wishes that I post more quotes from our founders to demonstrate they were not Christians, please let me know.

The notion that the U.S. is a Christian nation is supported by intellectual dishonest argumentation. Not only were our founders not Christian -- they were Deiests-- the U.S. Constitution makes clear that Church and State shall remain separate, and nowhere do you find any suggestion that our nation is founded on Christian principles.

You say the Founding Fathers professed their belief in Jesus Christ, but so what? How can anyone profess a belief in Jesus Christ and simultaneously own slaves? They may have believed themselves to be Christians, but they also believed themselves superior to other humans. So what kind of Christian nation foundation was laid here?

I'm much rather live in a country that had no religious identity whose people regarded each other with respect and trust, than in a supposed Christian nation at war with itself.

Most Americans believe in God, though not perhaps in Christianity. Isn't it enough to be one nation under God and let everyone decide for themselves what God that is? If you disagree, then on what grounds? That is, how does being a Christian nation make us better than simply being a nation full of good people?

The good news (for me, and for the nation) is that this so-called Christian majority is not united and never will be. Christian denominations will fortunately fissure, splinter, and war with one another all because you cannot agree on your flowery fluff of a theory of the universe and because you cannot discard your prejudices. When it's all over, after religion finally destroys itself, morality will be realized and America will be a great nation again.