One Nation, Under God

A couple weeks ago I wrote something to the effect that our nation was founded on Enlightenment, rather than Judeo-Christian, principles, by deists, rather than by devout Christians. Naturally, not everyone agrees with that assessment.

"[T]he nation’s Christian conservative activists...hold that the United States was founded by devout Christians and according to biblical precepts...When they proclaim that the United States is a “Christian nation,” they are not referring to the percentage of the population that ticks a certain box in a survey or census but to the country’s roots and the intent of the founders."

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"'...Christianity has had a deep impact on our system. The men who wrote the Constitution were Christians who knew the Bible. Our idea of individual rights comes from the Bible. The Western development of the free-market system owes a lot to biblical principles."

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"For [Texas state board of education member Imet Don] McLeroy, separation of church and state is a myth perpetrated by secular liberals."

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"'Many of us recognize that Judeo-Christian principles were the basis of our country and that many of our founding documents had a basis in Scripture. As we try to promote a better understanding of the Constitution, federalism, the separation of the branches of government, the basic rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, I think it will become evident to students that the founders had a religious motivation.'"

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"One recurring theme during the process of revising the social-studies guidelines was the desire of the board to stress the concept of American exceptionalism, and the Christian bloc has repeatedly emphasized that Christianity should be portrayed as the driving force behind what makes America great."


Read the rest here.