A Christian Nation? Since When?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

AMERICA may be a nation of believers, but when it comes to this country’s identity as a “Christian nation,” our beliefs are all over the map.

Just a few weeks ago, Public Policy Polling reported that 57 percent of Republicans favored officially making the United States a Christian nation. But in 2007, a survey by the First Amendment Center showed that 55 percent of Americans believed it already was one.

The confusion is understandable. For all our talk about separation of church and state, religious language has been written into our political culture in countless ways. It is inscribed in our pledge of patriotism, marked on our money, carved into the walls of our courts and our Capitol. Perhaps because it is everywhere, we assume it has been from the beginning.

But the founding fathers didn’t create the ceremonies and slogans that come to mind when we consider whether this is a Christian nation. Our grandfathers did.


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/opinion/sunday/a-christian-nation-since-when.html

[randr]

1. Freedom of Religion means Freedom from Religion

It takes a leap of faith to understand this for some people.

[el_bryanto]

3. I'm not sure about that

I mean I understand that Freedom of Religion should include the option for people to live without religion, and I certainly disagree with the concept that this is a Christian nation or that the Christian religion should have special privileges not open to other faiths or to those who practice no religion.

But Freedom of Religion or Freedom of Conscious means you are entitled to pick what you like - you could choose a religion or to live without religion.

Bryant

[randr]

8. I am sure about that

as I see you are as well.

[niyad]

2. "under god" and "in god we trust" added to pledge and money in 1954. that isn't my

granfather's time, it is mine. people forget how recent that nonsense is.

[Panich52]

6. Yep. 2 terrible blots on the record of a rather reasonable, reality-oriented

Repub president -- DDE.

[Half-Century Man]

4. Doesn't actually believing in Christianity negates the possibility of a christian nation?

I don't think you can't have a christian car, forest, lasagna, or nation. I've always heard being a christian meant you (the single soul) had recognized the divinity of Jesus and chosen to follow his teachings. At the end of your life you will stand in judgment before Mr Jesus and be graded on how well you followed said teachings. Because this is a personal contract between JC and you, no other affiliation is relevant.

No man made anything is relevant; not a car, house, or membership in anything. Being a Catholic means you accept the teaching of the Catholic Church as the accurate port rail of Jesus's teachings. You don't get points for being Catholic, you just got lucky to pick the right school of thought in the first place.

Another important piece is choice. You have to chose to and actually follow the teachings of JC. Mandating through law the following of a particular school of thought on divinity removes choice. Rendering your salvation moot



My understanding might be imperfect; I am not a christian. I am going by how it was explained to me. Usually without my consent.

[MisterP]

5. what, you mean a bunch of constantly-fighting Masons and dour Puritans didn't make a monolith?

[unblock]

7. in fact they fled christian nations to found one that was explicitly non-religious.

having seen the dangers of mixing religion and government, they set out to keep them separate.

moreover, many of the founders were not even christian (there were deists, jews, etc.), and among those that were christians, many loathed the church.


finally, the argument has long been made that bending the first amendment such as to put "in god we trust" on our currency was a small and harmless concession to religion. i think this survey shows that argument to be dangerously false.

[hifiguy]

9. Jefferson and Madison would need a case of Pepto each

it they could see the idjit cheapjack religious stoopid that has overrun their carefully balanced republic. After which they'd probably drink up all of Jefferson's wine cellar and say "Fuck it, we tried, but these morons weren't ready to govern themselves rationally."