[Dean's World] Kevin D.: America's Christian Roots

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Posted by Kevin D.:
America's Christian Roots
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1191440314.shtml


   Michael Medved writes a [1]good piece, in my opinion, about the
   beliefs and intentions of our Founding Fathers when it came to
   crafting our American republic.

   The idea that America was founded a Christian nation gets a lot of
   people all a twitter. I suspect that these people put their own bias
   ahead of a clear-minded observation of history but, of course, they
   could also claim the same of me. Either way, I'm sure Mr. Medved's
   piece will to little to change anyone's opinion on the matter.

   As for my opinion, well, it's a little complicated. I will say that I
   agree that America was founded as a Christian nation in so far as that
   the Founders crafted our government for a religiously moral people. A
   morally Christian people. Medved provides quotes from various Fathers
   to support this idea. Those quote also support my contention (and
   fears of the Founders) that as America moves from that Christian moral
   foundation the Constitution would, in essence, be up for grabs. Only a
   moral Christian population could keep the spirit of the Constitution
   intact and hold back government from overreaching.

   So, we were a Christian nation insofar as nearly every citizen of this
   nation identified themselves as such and desired their faith to inform
   the government.

   I would argue we are still a Christian nation as the super-majority of
   the nation profess a belief that Jesus is the Son of God. Just as we
   would call Israel a Jewish nation (in the religious sense) and Iran an
   Islamic nation.

   I fully expect each group to fling their favorite quotes from various
   Fathers in defense of their position one way or the other. It's what
   we do. I just hope the truth comes out in some fashion once the fracas
   is over.

   Or at least stalls out.

References

   1. http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/MichaelMedved/2007/10/03/the_founders_intended_a_christian,_not_secular,_society?page=1