America Is Christian Nation Essay

Submitted By sskuzmin
Words: 881
Pages: 4

There is many people in this country will doubt or deny that United States was found as Christian nation. In the past there is been many attempts to destroy the legacy of Christians. There are many points and arguments that support both each facts. This country has biggest population of Christians, but this nation considers of citizens who bounded by idea and set of values. First, many of Founders fathers in this country can not be described as Christians but as Deists, people who believe that the Creator set the world to put in motion but no longer is intervenes with the world. George Washington never been publicly admitted as Christian and Jefferson was regularly attack Christians, even though both of demonstrated writing to various religious groups. It showed that America is not supporting specific religion in the country. For example, as president Washington responded to Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, to make sure that their religion will be protected. “It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support” (Kelder, Lecture #4, 18). In the end Jefferson made his own Bible and cut out any occurrences of divine communication towards humanity. “Say nothing of my religion. It is known to my God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: it has been honest and dutiful to society, the religion which has regulated it cannot be bad one” (Nazareth, 1). Manny of our founding father were members of Christian churches, some Christians determine that the documents were maid for United States, were based on Christian’s values and principles. As time go by, a lot of Americans required to be part of the church (colonies) in order to vote or hold an office. During the document writing, Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, word “God’ refers in many occasions. Even though, non-Christians, especially Deists such as Jefferson and Paine, can use term “God”, who often resisted Christianity. Thomas Paine said, “I believe in God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.” (Kelder, Lecture #3, 8). To interpret Deist writing is dishonesty to Christians to support Christianity. Secondly, United States always has been home to a many traditional faiths. It is always been imagined that this country to be a religious country. First Amendment of United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, clearly states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This guarantees the freedom of religion but as well that any religion would be given any privileges over others. By 1833, all states had established religion from the government, providing the protection for religious liberty in states. These establishment separated church from the state, but that doesn’t go towards religion from politics and public life. Individual citizens are free to bring their own religious values into public area, but government system prohibits from favoring one religion view over