America is an intriguing nation with several unique ethnicities, backgrounds, and religions throughout the fifty states. Regardless of the above statement more than a few people have questioned if America is or is not a Christian Nation. Depending on a person’s individual stance on the matter, they usually correspond to one of two generalistic theories about America. Theory one: America was founded by agnostics, deists, and atheists as a non-religious nation with little to no Christian heritage. These people point to the establishment clause of the Constitution or the Treaty of Tripoli as proof of a Non-Christian America. Theory two: America is a Christian Nation that was founded on Judeo-Christian principles with an all-out Christian heritage.
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They have nothing to do with religion. Well, perhaps they do. Much of the language in America’s distinct documents, like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, comprise references to Christian ideas and linguistics. One of the most prominent examples comes from the Declaration’s preamble. The Preamble states, “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.” This profound and revolutionary statement has the tendency to be disposed of as the talk of a Deist. Same with the statement “With a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence” which is also from the Declaration tends to be brushed off as the talk of Deists. However, glancing back to the Bibles available in the late 18th century, there were two common Bible translations to select from, the Geneva Bible or the King James Bible. When weighed against modern translations or reinterpretations of older versions, the Geneva Bible and old King James version use comparable language and style to that found in the Declaration. Granted, this information alone is a feeble argument, but when paired alongside the influence of Christianity on the Founding Fathers and an early America grounded in the Christian faith, one might …show more content…
Multiple European countries insisted that their citizens belong to a state funded and run church, but not here in America. The Founding Fathers wrote that essentially the Government cannot establish (create) a national religion. America’s Founding Fathers did not want the aforementioned national religion which is why they included the Establishment Clause in the Constitution. The Establishment Clause prohibits the Government or Congress from creating a national religion, but it did not and still does not prohibit Congress or the Government from supporting a religion. In Fact, the U.S. Government has supported a religion, Christianity. On January 21st, 1781, Robert Aitken appealed to Congress requesting to print "a neat Edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools." And on September 12th, 1782, Congress replied stating “[we] highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken.” The Aitken Bible was the first Bible printed in America, and the only Bible to obtain the Congress’ sanction. Overall, this one example speaks volumes in the fact that for Congress to endorse such an act signifies “separation of Church and State” is not what the Founding Fathers intended for the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. So, what does this prove? It proves that the First Amendment was created to allow the Government to support a religion
They have nothing to do with religion. Well, perhaps they do. Much of the language in America’s distinct documents, like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, comprise references to Christian ideas and linguistics. One of the most prominent examples comes from the Declaration’s preamble. The Preamble states, “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.” This profound and revolutionary statement has the tendency to be disposed of as the talk of a Deist. Same with the statement “With a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence” which is also from the Declaration tends to be brushed off as the talk of Deists. However, glancing back to the Bibles available in the late 18th century, there were two common Bible translations to select from, the Geneva Bible or the King James Bible. When weighed against modern translations or reinterpretations of older versions, the Geneva Bible and old King James version use comparable language and style to that found in the Declaration. Granted, this information alone is a feeble argument, but when paired alongside the influence of Christianity on the Founding Fathers and an early America grounded in the Christian faith, one might …show more content…
Multiple European countries insisted that their citizens belong to a state funded and run church, but not here in America. The Founding Fathers wrote that essentially the Government cannot establish (create) a national religion. America’s Founding Fathers did not want the aforementioned national religion which is why they included the Establishment Clause in the Constitution. The Establishment Clause prohibits the Government or Congress from creating a national religion, but it did not and still does not prohibit Congress or the Government from supporting a religion. In Fact, the U.S. Government has supported a religion, Christianity. On January 21st, 1781, Robert Aitken appealed to Congress requesting to print "a neat Edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools." And on September 12th, 1782, Congress replied stating “[we] highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken.” The Aitken Bible was the first Bible printed in America, and the only Bible to obtain the Congress’ sanction. Overall, this one example speaks volumes in the fact that for Congress to endorse such an act signifies “separation of Church and State” is not what the Founding Fathers intended for the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. So, what does this prove? It proves that the First Amendment was created to allow the Government to support a religion