This may be because most public learning institutions are inclined to discuss Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Hancock, and James Madison. These Founding Fathers are often regarded as the least religious. So, the Founding Fathers being irreligious is an easy and straightforward view to uphold. However, the above listed Founding Fathers are five out of approximately 250 total Founding Fathers. That is right, 250ish Founding Fathers. Out of these 250 founders, roughly speaking, ninety-five percent belonged to various Christian Denominations. Of those founders who signed the Declaration of Independence twenty-nine of fifty-seven, or 50.87%, held Seminary or Bible school degrees. Also, “out of 57 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 49 declared themselves affiliated with some Protestant denomination.” Forty-nine out of fifty-seven is 86% (rounded up) of the signers professed Christianity as their religion. Since the majority of the Founders professed Christianity, is it not logical to suppose this impacted America’s most important …show more content…
America’s documents most all contain references to Christian ideas and linguistics. Look at the Declaration’s preamble for instance. “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.” Or the statement “With a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence” which is also from the Declaration. These radical statements have the tendency of being brushed off as the talk of Deists. However, glancing back to the late 18th century and at the Bibles available, there were perhaps two or three Bible translations to select from; the Geneva Bible or The King James Bible. Contrasted against todays modern translations, or reinterpretations of older versions, the Geneva Bible and the old King James Bible contain comparable language and tone to that found in several documents of their day. Granted, this information alone is a feeble argument. Pair it alongside of the influence of Christianity on the Founding Fathers and an early America grounded in Christian faith and one might start to wonder.
Nevertheless, what about Thomas Jefferson’s separation of church and state? Thomas Jefferson made it clear that the American government cannot support any form of religion,