Difference between revisions of "Christian Nation"

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(slavery argument belongs in a different article and is a strawman here. The CN advocates do not defend slavery. All sides call it irrelevant.)
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'''Christian Nation''' is a concept held among some [[Christian fundamentalists|fundamentalist Christians]] that the United States was founded as a "Christian Nation," then lost its way, and now should be restored to its original character.
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'''Christian Nation''' is a concept held among some [[Christian fundamentalists|fundamentalist Christians]] that the United States was founded as a "Christian Nation," then lost its way, and now should be restored to its original character.  This raises contradictions with the legal doctrine of separation of church and state, the freedom of religion held by both Christian and non-Christian citizens, and the mainstream conservative's advocacy against big, intrusive government.
  
 
==The founding fathers==
 
==The founding fathers==
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Regarding [[Thomas Jefferson]], Peterson states Jefferson was a [[Theism|theist]] "whose God was the Creator of the universe&nbsp;... all the evidences of nature testified to His perfection; and man could rely on the harmony and beneficence of His work."<ref>{{cite book |last=Peterson |first=Merrill D. |authorlink=Merrill D. Peterson |isbn=978-0-19-500054-2|authormask=2 |title=Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation; a Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1970 |ref=Peterson70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XcOXEb0O4-UC}}, ch. 2 [e-book].</ref>
 
Regarding [[Thomas Jefferson]], Peterson states Jefferson was a [[Theism|theist]] "whose God was the Creator of the universe&nbsp;... all the evidences of nature testified to His perfection; and man could rely on the harmony and beneficence of His work."<ref>{{cite book |last=Peterson |first=Merrill D. |authorlink=Merrill D. Peterson |isbn=978-0-19-500054-2|authormask=2 |title=Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation; a Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1970 |ref=Peterson70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XcOXEb0O4-UC}}, ch. 2 [e-book].</ref>
  
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Jefferson was firmly [[Anti-clericalism|anticlerical]], writing in "every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty&nbsp;... they have perverted the purest religion ever preached to man into mystery and jargon."<ref>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Gordon S |authormask=2 |isbn=978-0-19-503914-6 |title=Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |ref=Wood2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AWI8fmyhN5IC}}, p. 577.</ref>  Jefferson once supported banning clergy from public office but later relented.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Finkelman, Paul |ref=Finkelman2006 |title=The Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties A-F Index|publisher=Taylor & Francis Group|volume=1|year=2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVgKAgAAQBAJ|isbn=978-1-135-94704-0}}, p. 921.</ref> In 1777, he drafted the [[Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom]]. Ratified in 1786, it prohibted mandatory attendance or contributions to any state-sanctioned religious establishment illegal and declared that men "shall be free to profess&nbsp;... their opinions in matters of religion."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yarbrough |first1=Jean M.|last2=Jefferson |first2=Thomas |year=2006 |title=The Essential Jefferson |publisher=Hackett Publishing|isbn=978-1-60384-378-2 |ref=Yarbrough2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQGA8iIpZxQC}}, p. 28.</ref> The Statute is one of only three accomplishments he chose to have inscribed in the epitaph on his gravestone.<ref>[[#Peterson|Peterson, 2003]], p. 315.</ref><ref>W. W. Hening, ed., Statutes at Large of Virginia, vol. 12 (1823): 84–86.</ref>
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Jefferson was firmly [[Anti-clericalism|anticlerical]], writing in "every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty&nbsp;... they have perverted the purest religion ever preached to man into mystery and jargon."<ref>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Gordon S |authormask=2 |isbn=978-0-19-503914-6 |title=Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815 |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |ref=Wood2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AWI8fmyhN5IC}}, p. 577.</ref>  Jefferson once supported banning clergy from public office but later relented.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Finkelman, Paul |ref=Finkelman2006 |title=The Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties A-F Index|publisher=Taylor & Francis Group|volume=1|year=2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVgKAgAAQBAJ|isbn=978-1-135-94704-0}}, p. 921.</ref> In 1777, he drafted the [[Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom]]. Ratified in 1786, it prohibted mandatory attendance or contributions to any state-sanctioned religious establishment illegal and declared that men "shall be free to profess&nbsp;... their opinions in matters of religion."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yarbrough |first1=Jean M.|last2=Jefferson |first2=Thomas |year=2006 |title=The Essential Jefferson |publisher=Hackett Publishing|isbn=978-1-60384-378-2 |ref=Yarbrough2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQGA8iIpZxQC}}, p. 28.</ref> The Statute is one of only three accomplishments he chose to have inscribed in the epitaph on his gravestone.<ref>W. W. Hening, ed., Statutes at Large of Virginia, vol. 12 (1823): 84–86.</ref>
  
 
==Acceptance among conservatives and Christians==
 
==Acceptance among conservatives and Christians==
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Many Christians also believe that while not intended to be a Christian nation, "the ''principles'' upon which the United States was founded" were based on the [[Bible]], both the Old and New Testaments.<ref>[https://www.gotquestions.org/Founding-Fathers.html Were the Founding Fathers of the United States Christians?]. ''[[GotQuestions]]''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref> Christians also point out that the founding fathers did not intend a "[[separation of church and state]]" as liberals and secularists envision it.<ref name="Frazer"/>
 
Many Christians also believe that while not intended to be a Christian nation, "the ''principles'' upon which the United States was founded" were based on the [[Bible]], both the Old and New Testaments.<ref>[https://www.gotquestions.org/Founding-Fathers.html Were the Founding Fathers of the United States Christians?]. ''[[GotQuestions]]''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref> Christians also point out that the founding fathers did not intend a "[[separation of church and state]]" as liberals and secularists envision it.<ref name="Frazer"/>
  
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==Christian Heritage==
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==Christian heritage==
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Some people accept that the United States' heritage is mostly a Christian heritage, but reject the Christian nation claim.
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Prior to (and during) the American Revolution, the involvement of preachers was well known.(See [[Black Robed Regiment]])
 
Prior to (and during) the American Revolution, the involvement of preachers was well known.(See [[Black Robed Regiment]])
 
After the revolution, the involvement of the clergy did not end.  It was common for election day sermons to occur.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=O1RgAAAAcAAJ A Sermon, Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq. Governour; the Honourable the Council, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 28, 1788. Being the Day of General Election], By David Parsons</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=72o0AQAAMAAJ A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq: Governour, the Honourable the Senate, and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, October 25, 1780. Being the Day of the Commencement of the Constitution, and Inauguration of the New Government], by Samuel Cooper</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HKFgAAAAcAAJ A Sermon Preached Before the Honorable Council, and the Honorable House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, at Boston, May 26, 1779. Being the Anniversary for the Election of the Honorable Council.], by Samuel Stillman</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OlRgAAAAcAAJ A Sermon, Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq. Governour; His Honor Samuel Adams Esq. Lieutenant-Governour; the Honourable the Council, and the Honourable the Senate and House of Representatives, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 25, 1791. Being the Day of General Election.], By Chandler Robbins</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ve5CAQAAMAAJ A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency Samuel Adams, Esq., Governour: His Honor Moses Gill, Esq., Lieutenant-governour: the Honourable the Council, Senate, and House of Representatives, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 25, 1796. Being the Day of General Election], by Jonathan French</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924102767807 A sermon, preached before His Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esq. L.L.D. governor, and the Honorable the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut : convened at Hartford, on the day of the anniversary election, May 10th, 1792], by Timothy Stone</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924104014588 The duty of praying for all that are in authority, illustrated : a sermon preached before His Excellency Oliver Wolcott, and the honourable legislature of the state of Connecticut, at the general election, May 4, 1825], by Daniel Dow</ref><ref>[http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8295429 A sermon, preached before His Honor Oliver Wolcott, Esq. L.L.D. lieutenant-governor and commander in chief, and the Honorable the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut, convened at Hartford, on the day of the anniversary election, May 12th, 1796], by John Marsh</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLkvuxNgnJM David Barton]</ref>
 
After the revolution, the involvement of the clergy did not end.  It was common for election day sermons to occur.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=O1RgAAAAcAAJ A Sermon, Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq. Governour; the Honourable the Council, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 28, 1788. Being the Day of General Election], By David Parsons</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=72o0AQAAMAAJ A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq: Governour, the Honourable the Senate, and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, October 25, 1780. Being the Day of the Commencement of the Constitution, and Inauguration of the New Government], by Samuel Cooper</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HKFgAAAAcAAJ A Sermon Preached Before the Honorable Council, and the Honorable House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, at Boston, May 26, 1779. Being the Anniversary for the Election of the Honorable Council.], by Samuel Stillman</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OlRgAAAAcAAJ A Sermon, Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq. Governour; His Honor Samuel Adams Esq. Lieutenant-Governour; the Honourable the Council, and the Honourable the Senate and House of Representatives, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 25, 1791. Being the Day of General Election.], By Chandler Robbins</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ve5CAQAAMAAJ A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency Samuel Adams, Esq., Governour: His Honor Moses Gill, Esq., Lieutenant-governour: the Honourable the Council, Senate, and House of Representatives, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 25, 1796. Being the Day of General Election], by Jonathan French</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924102767807 A sermon, preached before His Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esq. L.L.D. governor, and the Honorable the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut : convened at Hartford, on the day of the anniversary election, May 10th, 1792], by Timothy Stone</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924104014588 The duty of praying for all that are in authority, illustrated : a sermon preached before His Excellency Oliver Wolcott, and the honourable legislature of the state of Connecticut, at the general election, May 4, 1825], by Daniel Dow</ref><ref>[http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8295429 A sermon, preached before His Honor Oliver Wolcott, Esq. L.L.D. lieutenant-governor and commander in chief, and the Honorable the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut, convened at Hartford, on the day of the anniversary election, May 12th, 1796], by John Marsh</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLkvuxNgnJM David Barton]</ref>
  
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Many people, primarily liberals, claim that because [[slavery]] was legal in several states up to 1865, the notion that the U.S. was founded on biblical principles with a Christian heritage (different from being a Christian nation) is either hypocritical or false. However, these liberals overlook several key facts, and their claims are exaggerated. First, slavery was common throughout the entire world (and still exists; 45 million people in the world were slaves in 2016<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36416751 What does modern slavery look like?]. ''BBC''. May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref>), existing in many different nations and cultures for millennia.<ref name="Medved">Medved, Michael (September 26, 2007). [https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelmedved/2007/09/26/six-inconvenient-truths-about-the-us-and-slavery-n876052 Six inconvenient truths about the U.S. and slavery]. ''Townhall''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> Only 3% of all the slaves taken from Africa actually went to North America,<ref name="Medved"/> and liberals commonly overlook the [[Arab slave trade]], which enslaved tens-of-millions of African people.<ref>Moore, A. (June 2, 2014). [http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/06/02/10-facts-about-the-arab-enslavement-of-black-people-not-taught-in-schools/ 10 Facts About The Arab Enslavement Of Black People Not Taught In Schools]. ''Atlanta Black Star''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref><ref>Williams, Thomas D., PhD (August 2, 2016). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/08/02/islamic-state-muslims-ran-america-lucrative-african-slave-trade-continued/ Islamic State: If Muslims Ran America, ‘Lucrative African Slave Trade Would Have Continued’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref><ref>Hochschild, Adam (March 4, 2001). [http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/03/04/reviews/010304.04hochsct.html Human Cargo]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> Additionally, the founding fathers mainly opposed slavery and put anti-slavery principles into the Constitution.<ref name="McCormack">McCormack, John (June 29, 2011). [http://www.weeklystandard.com/lincoln-said-it-best-the-founding-fathers-opposed-slavery/article/575904 Lincoln Said It Best: The Founding Fathers Opposed Slavery]. ''The Weekly Standard''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> They did not outright abolish it mainly due to pragmatic concerns, although the Northern states did.<ref>Anthony Iaccarino. [https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Founding-Fathers-and-Slavery-1269536 The Founding Fathers and Slavery]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved May 23, 2017.</ref> The U.S. soon took steps to limit slavery, such as banning it in the [[Northwest Territory]] in 1787 and banning the [[slave trade]] in 1807.<ref name="McCormack"/> Unlike most other countries around the world, the U.S. quickly abolished slavery, and although the evil of slavery cannot be denied, the slave trade did not equal genocide and it was a long term benefit for the Africans to leave Africa and enter the U.S.<ref name="Medved"/> Regarding racism in general, racism exists throughout the enire world, with most countries being much more racist than the U.S., a [[melting pot]], and modern liberals hold racist attitudes.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Liberal-Racism-Fixating-Subverts-American/dp/0742522016 Liberal Racism: How Fixating on Race Subverts the American Dream], by Jim Sleeper. (2002)</ref>
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During United States history, the Christian religion has been misapplied to justify the oppression and exclusion of minority groups from the mainstream economy and culture. Although the specific acts of hate and violence were against Christian values, the leaders of these groups misused Christianity as a rallying point to defend their actions. For example, during the pre-Civil War era, slaves and black freemen were not considered "true Christians" and were excluded from attending church with white denominations. Later, the [[Ku Klux Klan]] terrorized blacks, Catholics and Jews.
  
 
== State Church ==
 
== State Church ==

Revision as of 22:10, May 25, 2017

Christian Nation is a concept held among some fundamentalist Christians that the United States was founded as a "Christian Nation," then lost its way, and now should be restored to its original character. This raises contradictions with the legal doctrine of separation of church and state, the freedom of religion held by both Christian and non-Christian citizens, and the mainstream conservative's advocacy against big, intrusive government.

The founding fathers

The founding fathers were religiously and theologically diverse, coming from several denominational backgrounds.[1] Their actual beliefs and practices are debated, but here too, they were diverse and must not be generalized.[2] Some argue that the majority of the founding fathers were deists,[1] while others argue that the most important fathers were "theistic rationalists," meaning they were not deists, but not necessarily Christians either.[2] Despite this, scholars agree that some founding fathers were orthodox Christians.[1][2] The founding fathers that were not Christians were influenced by Christianity in a culture where publically being a Christian was normal.[2]

The founding fathers considered to be "theistic rationalists" did believe God was active in earthly affairs and that religion was essentially important to society because it brought morality.[2] However, they believed this to be true for all religions, rather than just Christianity.[2] They opposed the establishment of an official religion but supported religion in public life.[2]

Regarding Thomas Jefferson, Peterson states Jefferson was a theist "whose God was the Creator of the universe ... all the evidences of nature testified to His perfection; and man could rely on the harmony and beneficence of His work."[3]

Jefferson was firmly anticlerical, writing in "every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty ... they have perverted the purest religion ever preached to man into mystery and jargon."[4] Jefferson once supported banning clergy from public office but later relented.[5] In 1777, he drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Ratified in 1786, it prohibted mandatory attendance or contributions to any state-sanctioned religious establishment illegal and declared that men "shall be free to profess ... their opinions in matters of religion."[6] The Statute is one of only three accomplishments he chose to have inscribed in the epitaph on his gravestone.[7]

Acceptance among conservatives and Christians

Many conservative figures reject, at least in part, the "Christian Nation" theme. President Ronald Reagan wrote to Norman Lear in 1984 to say that he was "not aware of any 'Christian Nation movement' and I certainly do not support the notion."[8]

Many conservatives and Christians generally speak in terms of Judeo-Christian ethics and values, of America having a Christian heritage, or that the founding fathers were mainly, but not in entirety, Christian men. Most conservatives view both the Old Testament and the New Testament as co-equal contributors to American heritage.

Many Christians also believe that while not intended to be a Christian nation, "the principles upon which the United States was founded" were based on the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments.[9] Christians also point out that the founding fathers did not intend a "separation of church and state" as liberals and secularists envision it.[2]

Christian heritage

Some people accept that the United States' heritage is mostly a Christian heritage, but reject the Christian nation claim.

Prior to (and during) the American Revolution, the involvement of preachers was well known.(See Black Robed Regiment) After the revolution, the involvement of the clergy did not end. It was common for election day sermons to occur.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

During United States history, the Christian religion has been misapplied to justify the oppression and exclusion of minority groups from the mainstream economy and culture. Although the specific acts of hate and violence were against Christian values, the leaders of these groups misused Christianity as a rallying point to defend their actions. For example, during the pre-Civil War era, slaves and black freemen were not considered "true Christians" and were excluded from attending church with white denominations. Later, the Ku Klux Klan terrorized blacks, Catholics and Jews.

State Church

Countries with an official religion are not necessarily theocratic or Christian Nations (not in way Fundamentalists describe a theocratic nation). It only means that the governments recognize the church as their religion, yet some of these countries also recognize religious freedom.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 David L. Holmes. The Founding Fathers, Deism, and Christianity. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Dr. Greg Frazer. The Faith of the Founding Fathers. The Master's University. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  3. ↑ Peterson, Merrill D. (1970). Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation; a Biography. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-500054-2. , ch. 2 [e-book].
  4. ↑ Wood, Gordon S (2010). Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-503914-6. , p. 577.
  5. ↑ (2006) in Finkelman, Paul: The Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties A-F Index. Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-1-135-94704-0. , p. 921.
  6. ↑ (2006) The Essential Jefferson. Hackett Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60384-378-2. , p. 28.
  7. ↑ W. W. Hening, ed., Statutes at Large of Virginia, vol. 12 (1823): 84–86.
  8. ↑ Ronald Reagan, Reagan: A Life in Letters, ed. by Kiron K. Skinner (2004) p. 642, Norman Lear was a Hollywood producer and an important organizer of secularism.
  9. ↑ Were the Founding Fathers of the United States Christians?. GotQuestions. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  10. ↑ A Sermon, Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq. Governour; the Honourable the Council, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 28, 1788. Being the Day of General Election, By David Parsons
  11. ↑ A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq: Governour, the Honourable the Senate, and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, October 25, 1780. Being the Day of the Commencement of the Constitution, and Inauguration of the New Government, by Samuel Cooper
  12. ↑ A Sermon Preached Before the Honorable Council, and the Honorable House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, at Boston, May 26, 1779. Being the Anniversary for the Election of the Honorable Council., by Samuel Stillman
  13. ↑ A Sermon, Preached Before His Excellency John Hancock, Esq. Governour; His Honor Samuel Adams Esq. Lieutenant-Governour; the Honourable the Council, and the Honourable the Senate and House of Representatives, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 25, 1791. Being the Day of General Election., By Chandler Robbins
  14. ↑ A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency Samuel Adams, Esq., Governour: His Honor Moses Gill, Esq., Lieutenant-governour: the Honourable the Council, Senate, and House of Representatives, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 25, 1796. Being the Day of General Election, by Jonathan French
  15. ↑ A sermon, preached before His Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esq. L.L.D. governor, and the Honorable the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut : convened at Hartford, on the day of the anniversary election, May 10th, 1792, by Timothy Stone
  16. ↑ The duty of praying for all that are in authority, illustrated : a sermon preached before His Excellency Oliver Wolcott, and the honourable legislature of the state of Connecticut, at the general election, May 4, 1825, by Daniel Dow
  17. ↑ A sermon, preached before His Honor Oliver Wolcott, Esq. L.L.D. lieutenant-governor and commander in chief, and the Honorable the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut, convened at Hartford, on the day of the anniversary election, May 12th, 1796, by John Marsh
  18. ↑ David Barton
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