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:That's a good reference, but the premise of the debate does not suggest that religion did not influence the ideas behind the founding of this nation.  What is in question is whether the founders made religion and the concept that this is "a nation under God" part of the ''institution'' of the country itself.  That's the basis of why some want the phrase "under God" reverted from the pledge of allegiance, and "in God we trust" removed from the currency.  Those phrases reflect the principle that this nation was formally established under the auspices of the Judeo-Christian God, when it was not.  It was founded by men who were free to pursue their religious faith without the government endorsing any religion over any other as shown below.  When we incorporate references to the Judeo-Christian God in the currency and pledges to our nation we are no longer adhering to the principle of the First Amendment.  We can have a secular government without it being implied as an attack on Christianity.  --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 13:04, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

:That's a good reference, but the premise of the debate does not suggest that religion did not influence the ideas behind the founding of this nation.  What is in question is whether the founders made religion and the concept that this is "a nation under God" part of the ''institution'' of the country itself.  That's the basis of why some want the phrase "under God" reverted from the pledge of allegiance, and "in God we trust" removed from the currency.  Those phrases reflect the principle that this nation was formally established under the auspices of the Judeo-Christian God, when it was not.  It was founded by men who were free to pursue their religious faith without the government endorsing any religion over any other as shown below.  When we incorporate references to the Judeo-Christian God in the currency and pledges to our nation we are no longer adhering to the principle of the First Amendment.  We can have a secular government without it being implied as an attack on Christianity.  --[[User:DinsdaleP|DinsdaleP]] 13:04, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

::  ''"formally established under the auspices of the Judeo-Christian God, when it was not."'' In your op. There are literally 100's of examples otherwise. [[Samuel Adams]] "We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient. From the rising to the setting of the sun may His kingdom come." [[Benjamin Franklin]], June 28, 1787. He said, "I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." [[John Hancock]], president of the Continental Congress, said, "Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the Universe."

::  ''"formally established under the auspices of the Judeo-Christian God, when it was not."'' In your op. There are literally 100's of examples otherwise. [[Samuel Adams]] "We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient. From the rising to the setting of the sun may His kingdom come." [[Benjamin Franklin]], June 28, 1787. He said, "I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." [[John Hancock]], president of the Continental Congress, said, "Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the Universe." DinsdaleP, you can nitpick these all you want. The Founders were not interested in a secular society. -- [[Image:50 star flag.png|14px]] [[User:Jpatt|jp]] 17:13, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

DinsdaleP, you can nitpick these all you want. The Founders were not interested in a secular society. -- [[Image:50 star flag.png|14px]] [[User:Jpatt|jp]] 17:13, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

:: One more addition. The founding fathers expected officeholders to be Christians. The Delaware Constitution of 1776 is a perfect example. Everyone appointed to public office had to say: "I do profess faith in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by divine inspiration."

==No, they did not intend to establish the U.S.A. as "One nation under God"==

==No, they did not intend to establish the U.S.A. as "One nation under God"==